Glenn’s Repairs Water Damage Series — Part 2
Water damage isn’t always as obvious as water dripping from the ceiling or a puddle on the floor. Sometimes the first signs of water damage are so small that they’re easy to overlook.
A little discoloration on a wall. A piece of trim that doesn’t look quite right. Paint that has started to bubble. A floor that suddenly feels a little different under your feet.
Glenn deals with water damage regularly in his repair work, and one thing he has learned is that what you can see on the surface doesn’t always tell you how much damage is underneath.
That’s why it pays to notice the little changes around your home.
Water Stains on Walls and Ceilings
One of the easiest signs of water damage to recognize is a stain on a wall or ceiling.
It may be yellowish or brown, or it may simply look like a darker area than the surrounding surface. Even a small stain deserves some attention, especially if it grows larger or returns after being painted over.
The important thing to remember is that the stain tells you where the water ended up. It doesn’t necessarily tell you where the water came from.
Water can travel along pipes, framing and other building materials before finally reaching the spot where you see it.
Peeling, Bubbling or Cracking Paint
Paint can sometimes give you an early warning that moisture is getting where it shouldn’t.
Paint may begin bubbling or peeling away from the surface. Drywall underneath it may feel damp or soft. Wallpaper can also begin pulling away from the wall.
Painting over the problem may make it look better temporarily, but it doesn’t stop the source of the moisture.
If water is causing the paint to fail, you need to find out where that water is coming from.
Soft or Swollen Wood
This is one Glenn pays particular attention to.
Wood around windows, doors, exterior trim, sinks and other areas exposed to moisture should feel solid. If you press on an area and the wood feels unusually soft, spongy or crumbly, water may have been getting into it for some time.
Wood can also swell, warp or begin separating.
And sometimes the damage underneath is considerably greater than what you can see from the outside.
What looks like one little damaged corner may turn into a much larger repair once the deteriorated material is removed and solid wood is finally reached.
Warped or Loose Flooring
Floors can also tell you that something is wrong.
Wood and laminate flooring may buckle, swell or develop raised areas. Tiles may become loose. Vinyl flooring can lift or change shape.
Sometimes the problem isn’t actually the flooring. Water may be underneath it.
A leaking appliance, plumbing problem or another source of moisture can affect the flooring as well as the subfloor beneath it.
If a section of flooring suddenly starts behaving differently from the rest of the floor, it’s worth finding out why.
A Musty Smell That Doesn’t Go Away
Sometimes you can smell a moisture problem before you can see it.
A persistent musty or moldy odor can be a reason to investigate further, particularly if it seems strongest in one particular room or area.
The EPA notes that a moldy or musty odor can indicate mold growth that should be investigated. Moisture is what allows indoor mold to grow, so finding and correcting the source of the moisture is important.
Don’t assume that everything is fine simply because you can’t see anything unusual.
Look Around Windows and Doors
Windows and exterior doors are good places to check periodically.
Look closely at the trim, corners and areas where different materials meet. Watch for cracked or missing caulk, discoloration, peeling paint, swollen wood or soft spots.
A very small opening can allow rainwater into places where it was never intended to go.
Over time, repeated exposure can turn what appears to be a minor exterior maintenance problem into damaged wood and a much larger repair.
Don’t Forget Under Sinks and Around Appliances
Some of the easiest water leaks to miss are inside the house.
Take an occasional look underneath kitchen and bathroom sinks. Check around the toilet, dishwasher, washing machine, refrigerator water line and water heater.
You’re looking for more than standing water.
Look for staining, dampness, swollen cabinet material, corrosion or anything else that wasn’t there before.
A slow drip can do a surprising amount of damage when it has weeks or months to work.
Hidden Water Damage Can Keep Getting Worse
A small leak doesn’t necessarily stay a small repair.
If water continues reaching wood, drywall, insulation, flooring or other materials, the affected area can become larger over time. The EPA recommends fixing water problems promptly and drying wet or damp materials quickly—generally within 24 to 48 hours—to help prevent mold growth.
That’s another reason the early signs of water damage shouldn’t be ignored.
Your Home Will Often Give You Clues
You don’t have to be a home repair expert to notice when something has changed.
You walk through your house every day. You know what your walls, floors, windows and doors normally look like.
If you notice a new stain, a soft piece of wood, peeling paint, an unusual smell or flooring that suddenly doesn’t feel right, take a closer look.
It may turn out to be nothing serious.
But when water is involved, finding the problem early can sometimes mean the difference between a relatively simple repair and discovering much more damage after the surface is opened up.
When your home gives you a clue that something isn’t right, it’s usually worth paying attention.
