One of the worst things that can happen to a home is water infiltration. Whether it’s due to a leaky roof, foundation, pipe, or window, anytime water gets into your home it’s bad news. And unfortunately, water damage can happen to any home no matter its age, location, or price tag.
Worse, water damage is about much more than just a ceiling stain or a damp window ledge. That’s because water can lead to a host of problems including structural damage, ruined insulation, and even mold growth. Once mold gets into your home, remediation is costly, while failure to remove all of it can lead to serious health concerns for anyone who spends time in your living space.
To help you keep your home healthy, safe, and efficient, our pros at The Construction Group are sharing some of the most common signs of water damage to watch out for this spring. To schedule your water damage repair services, give our general contractors a call.
1. Water Pooled Where It Isn’t Supposed to Be
It might seem obvious, but one of the most obvious signs of water damage is pooling water. But too often, homeowners make the fundamental mistake of simply cleaning up the mess and moving on with their lives.
If you’re not sure where the water is coming from, your first priority needs to be finding the source of the water leak. Anytime you find water in your home where it isn’t supposed to be, you should also have your home inspected for any areas that may have been affected.
2. Water Around Windows or Doors
Not all water damage is as clear-cut as a pool of water near a broken pipe. If you spot water dripping near your window or you notice your door or window frames are moist, it means you likely have a damaged frame or seal. Investing in a high-performance replacement window or door should resolve the issue. When you schedule your window or door replacement services, ask your contractor to take a look at your drywall and the materials underneath to check for mold and other types of water damage.
3. Wet Insulation
If you suspect a roof leak, one of the most obvious signs is wet insulation in your attic. Anytime your insulation has become wet, it should be replaced as soon as possible since the moisture will compromise its performance. Be sure to schedule a roof inspection before you invest in insulation replacement services.
4. Outsized Water Bills
It’s never a good sign when you receive a utility bill that’s much higher than you expect it to be. With inflation one of the hottest topics on the nightly news these days, you might not question a utility bill increase. But you should – especially if that utility is a water bill. That’s because an unusually high water bill could be a sign that you’ve got a leak somewhere on your property. Not only could that leak continue to cost you money down the road, but it may be causing unseen damage to your home as water seeps into your floorboards, walls, or foundation. If you’re not sure where the leak is coming from, it’s a good idea to schedule a complete inspection.
5. Wall and Ceiling Discoloration
A dripping or wet ceiling or wall is a huge red flag and almost invariably indicates water damage inside your home as well as roof damage. You also need to keep an eye out for discolorations and water marks that indicate your ceiling or wall has been wet and dried, as this can happen when it rains and dry up before you realize there’s a problem.
6. Bubbled Paint
When moisture gets underneath paint, it can moisten the paint from the underside, causing the walls to become bubbled up. Once the paint has become wet and begun to expand and stretch in this way, it cannot be saved and must be scraped off and repainted. Worse, these bubbles indicate that the wall underneath the paint could become damaged. If you spy paint bubbles on your walls, it’s essential to find the source of the leak and stop it before you begin to repaint. You’ll also need to schedule an inspection and make sure your drywall doesn’t need to be repaired.
7. Dank Smells or Mildew Smells
Even if you don’t notice any visible signs of water damage, you should have your home inspected if you identify any smells that could indicate you’ve had a leak somewhere inside of your home. From slight dank or musty smells to a strong mildew odor, any odors that indicate you may have water in your home should be taken seriously since they invariably indicate the presence of mold as well.
Call to Schedule Your Twin Cities Water Damage Inspection
Have you noticed a musty smell in your home or wet spots on your ceiling? Don’t wait to have your home checked for water damage. To schedule your inspection or water damage repair services, contact The Construction Group in Woodbury today at 651-731-5857 or contact us on the web.