Water can damage a home quickly and one may not notice something is wrong until several weeks later. Many business and homeowner may notice a small amount of water that is continually in the same location, but think nothing of it because of its small size. But when curiosity arises and the small amount of water is investigated, one may discover the small damp spots have rotted walls, foundation, or worse. Knowing the initial signs of water damage can help home and business owners know when they need to take serious action.

What to Look For:

• Stains on drywall: this is one of the classic signs of water damage. If drywall stains are noticed, check to see if the frames to exterior doors and window frames are stained as well. Find the cause of the water staining and fix it.
• Strange stains on inside walls: this is typically a sign of a leaky pipe inside a wall. Fix it quick.
• Floors that are warped or buckled: a sign of possible water exposure that could be due to pipes that run under the flooring or a nearby leak (like from a sink).
• Check the water meter: Suspect a leak, but are not sure? Check the water meter and notate its figures. Turn the water off to a house or building for at least an hour and check the water meter again. If the meter’s figures are higher, there’s a leak somewhere (possibly in one of the water lines).
• Missing, curled, or cracked shingles and damaged flashing: these things could be symptoms of a leaking roof, poor water drainage, or water damage in the attic, roof vents, or chimney vents.
• Standing water or erosion to a patio or driveway: A small, standing pool of water (no matter how small it is) is not good news. This means there is poor drainage as a result of the landscaping, leaking gutters, or water not flowing far enough away from a building.

Check out more signs of water damage.

Water damage needs to be dealt with swiftly and correctly. This includes making sure the water was completely dried and all mold was remediated. If not, water damage could continue and mold could cause further damage. Learn more about water damage restoration.