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Hard To Spot Signs Of Water Damage

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Water damage is a serious concern for the interior of your home, as it can cause a significant amount of structural damage and promote the growth of mold and mildew, which are a serious health concern. While water damage can be easily spotted if a leak develops in your ceiling or if water is freely and visible flowing, it more often than not takes on a less noticeable profile. Knowing how to spot water damage when it isn't immediately obvious can help you identify and treat the problem before it becomes serious.

Paint and Wallpaper

Paint and wallpaper will experience water damage before any other type of material or surface in your home, but it can be hard to spot. Water that has made its way into the walls will cause paint and wallpaper to streak or bubble, slowly separating it from the wall on which it is mounted. If you notice any signs of damage to your paint or wallpaper, you should check the area in the attic immediately above it or the pipes behind it in order to determine the exact source of the leak.

Plumbing Caulk

Water damage can cause a great deal of damage to the caulk around your plumbing as well, which won't be easy to notice. Check around the base of your faucets, sinks, and other water using fixtures for signs of deteriorating or crumbling caulk. This is almost a sure sign of a water leak, especially if combined with any amount of unexplained dampness and moisture nearby.

Doors and Windows

A counter-intuitive sign of water damage within your home is if your windows and doors no longer close as easily as they once did. This can be attributed to higher moisture levels within your house, causing the wood frames of your windows and doors to swell, which will make it difficult to open or close your windows and contribute to cracking and mold growth. If this is the case, you should invest in a dehumidifier and contact a plumber to locate the leak in question.

Foundation Cracks

Check your basement for signs of cracking in the foundation. While these can develop over time due to natural wear and pressure, a high prevalence of new cracks in the walls of your basement, especially when coupled with any of the above warning signs of water damage in your home, can point to a leak causing significant amounts of damage, and can warrant calling a plumber to take a look at your pipes. Not only that, but your foundation cracking can actually ruin other areas of your home, such as your flooring. That is why you might have to call up Atlantic Carpet Care or other services that specialize in taking care of flooring needs in such situations.


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