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Identifying Old vs New Water Damage

damaged wall

For every homeowner, water damage can be a nightmare. But before you panic about emerginc signs of water damage in your home, the first thing to do is to determine whether it is new or old. By doing so, you can decide if the problem you have is severe enough to consider consulting Utah water damage companies.

Distinguishing between old and new water damage is essential for several reasons. It helps to know how long the issue has been taking place, and this timeline will help you determine how serious the problem is. 

In this article, you will learn how to tell if water damage is new or old, particularly in three conditions. More so, you will learn the five steps to determine how old the damage is.

How to Tell if Water Damage is New or Old

Here are three conditions that will help you tell if water damage is new or old.

  • New water damage will be a dark water spot. Also, you’ll know it’s fresh when the surface feels firm.
  • Old water damage has dry water rings. The surface for this type of water damage will also feel squishy.
  • There will be the appearance of mold and mildew that have gray or black specks.

Determining the Age of Water Damage

Below are the steps you should consider to figure out the age of your water damage.

  1. Touch and Feel the Spot. Look for some spots with water and touch them. If the surface is squishy and mushy, it indicates that the ceiling must have absorbed much water, which means the water damage is old. 
  1. Search for Rings. Look for dark spots. If there is no ring around the surface, then the water damage is likely new. If there are rings around the dark spot, then the water damage must be old. And the more rings there are, the more time has passed since the water has seeped into the surface. 
  1. Check and Examine the Materials. Check the tiles and thick paint on your walls or ceiling as they could have trapped water within. Even a small water spot could mean that the water damage has been there for a long time.
  1. Inspect for Any Mold. Any sign of mold infestation is an indication that the damage brought by the water has been consistent for about two to three days.
  1. Watch Out for Decay. Household materials do not typically decay due to brand new water damage. Any decay on your walls or ceilings means that the materials have been exposed to consistent standing water, which could mean that the water damage is old.

Final Thoughts

Water damage in Utah is a common problem, so it’s important to know what to do when you see signs of it creeping into your home. Knowing if the water damage is new or old would not fix the problem, but it is an essential step that will help you identify how severe it is. This information is crucial for professionals to come in and correct the issue.

If the water damage is new, the underlying problems are easily fixable. If it is old, there must have been more significant problems to address. Whatever it may be, consider hiring AAA Restoration Utah. We are experts on water damage restoration in Salt Lake City that specializes in fixing problems like this. Call us today to schedule an appointment.