Knowing The Signs Of Water Damage In Your Home

When it comes to your Hattiesburg home, the water damage that occurs in places we cannot see can be a major issue. Places such as behind walls, cabinets under sinks, or even in the attic are prone to water damage because of the plumbing fixtures and pipes that run through them. The more time this hidden water damage goes without being discovered and addressed, the more damage it does to things like your insulation, drywall, wood trim, floors, and ceilings. Mold growth brought on by concealed water damage can potentially spread throughout your entire house, causing a myriad of respiratory symptoms in those exposed to it. For these reasons, it is important to know the signs of water damage in your home so you can get it resolved before it becomes a major issue. 

Water Damage In Hattiesburg

Here are some things our team at Restoration 1 of Gulf Coast wants you to look for to identify potential water damage in not-so-obvious places in your home:

• Visible Mold: Since we already mentioned it above, let’s start with visible mold. Mold can form in places with too much moisture, particularly in and around cabinets, bathroom plumbing fixtures, and other home appliances that utilize a water source – hence why seeing mold growing in your home is a strong indicator that there is some form of water damage fueling it. Mold might be white, dark green, black, or even yellow and brown in color. While it often has a fuzzy appearance, mold can also look spotted or stranded and manifest itself as clusters in corners or other tight spaces. If you find mold growing in your home, you need to call a professional water damage and mold damage company right away to find out what kind it is and to remove it.
• Musty Odors: The next sign of water damage becomes apparent as a side effect of mold and other microbial growth – musty odors. A musty odor develops as water is absorbed by porous materials, like insulation, drywall, wood, etc. and it is left long enough to foster microbial growth. Although smells can travel throughout your home, the pungent, earthy smell associated with water damage will tend to be more potent in one location versus another, which is the area you should have evaluated for water damage right away. 
• Water Stains Or Discoloration: Another strong indicator that you have a water damage problem is water stains or discoloration on surfaces in your home. Sheetrock, drywall, baseboards, and even some flooring materials will absorb any leaks in the walls, ceilings, or floors of your home. As this water is absorbed, it leaves behind stains and discoloration often as circles or wrings that are brown or orangey in color. While these water stains could be signs of an old water damage problem, it is always a good idea to have them inspected by a water damage company to make sure that the source has been stopped. 

While this list only covers a few potential signs of water damage, it is a good starting place to increase your knowledge and help you be on the lookout for any possible water damage problems in your home. For more information on water damage or help restoring water damage, call Restoration 1 of Gulf Coast.