Part of owning a home is learning the basics of maintenance. One such task is watching out for signs of water damage. Most homeowners will experience some form of water damage during their lifetime. Water damage can occur at any time and almost anywhere in the house; watching for the signs requires vigilance and knowledge. Missing the signs can result in mold, rot, health risks, and expensive water damage cleanup in Overland Park, KS. If you own a home, here are some of the signs of water damage you can watch for:
Creaking, Buckling Floors
Floors suffering from water damage will buckle, warp, and crack if they are made from wood or tile. Carpet will stain and develop a musty smell. In addition, you might feel soft spots as you step on wet spots; these areas might not look wet, but if they feel soft, you’ve got water somewhere. Creaking floors can also be a sign that water is damaging your floors.
Mysterious Stains
Water stains can appear anywhere; you might see them on walls, ceilings, or floors. These stains are signs of leaks behind the scenes. Leaks behind walls or in ceilings might also show up as soft, swollen areas. Cracks and peeling paint are other signs of water problems.
Puddles
If you notice areas of standing water outside in the absence of watering or rain, it’s often an indication that underground pipes are leaking or that gutters or other drainage devices aren’t moving water away from your home as designed. Standing water, especially near the foundation of your home, needs to be addressed before it causes bigger problems.
Roof Problems
Roofs are significant sources of home leaks. Taking periodic walks around your attic, if possible, will alert you to problems. Additionally, you can examine the external condition of your roof. If you see missing, cracked, or curled shingles, clogged gutters, or damaged flashing, these problems are signs that your home may be experiencing water damage in these weak spots.
Rust
Any signs of rust or corrosion on pipes, water heaters, or other fixtures indicate that water is leaking. And, when water is leaking, it’s causing damage somewhere. Healthy pipes won’t rust, only the broken ones will. If you see rust, it’s time to look for water damage.
Musty Smell
Not every water leak is visible. Eventually, you’ll see every leak, but in the early stages, what you’ll often notice first is a musty, moldy smell. Basements are especially prone to water damage and musty smells. Trust your nose; dry basements don’t’ smell.
High Water Bill
Keeping an eye on your water bill is a good way to detect hidden water leaks. If your bill shows higher usage than normal that can’t be explained by guests or other unusual events, chances are you have a leak.
Now What?
If you’ve spotted one of these signs of water damage in your home, the next step is to call Emergency Mitigation Services, the leading water cleanup company in Overland Park, KS. We have the skills and the tools to find the leak, remove the water, and clean up the damage so you can get your home back to normal again. Call us as soon as you see signs of water damage; the faster we get there, the lower the damages.