Water is the lifeblood of our planet, sustaining human life, as well as the lives of all animals and plants. Without water, our existence would be in immediate peril. While water is undeniably essential, there are certain situations in which an influx of unwanted water can create huge problems and cause damage to your home.

If you ever experience water damage in San Diego, Certified Restoration specializes in water damage restoration, helping to quickly clean up any water damage so you can go back to enjoying the comfort of your home. 

What is Water Damage and How Can It Damage Your Home?

Water damage can occur from obvious causes, such as a burst pipe or extreme weather elements. However, much more common is water damage caused by hidden water leaks. Over time, little drops of water hidden within your home can cause serious structural issues.

Water damage restoration can turn into an expensive headache if you are not vigilant about addressing any signs of water damage in your home. Not only can water cause damage to the structure of your home, but water leaks can also quickly become a ripe environment for mold to grow, which can lead to future health issues. That is why it is important to try to identify water damage as quickly as possible, saving your home from possible damage and your wallet from the resulting water damage cleanup expenses.

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What are the Signs of Water Damage in Your Home?

In order to avoid significant damage to your home, you need to constantly be searching for signs of water damage in your home. There are a few easy to identify signs of water damage in your home, and below we identify the most common signs. If you observe any of these signs of water damage in your home, you should call your water restoration company as soon as possible. 

Stains on the Walls and Ceilings

If you see patches of paint discoloration or obvious stains on your walls and ceilings, that is a clear sign of water damage in your home. Do not try to paint over these stains, as that is not a fix and the issue will often resurface through the new paint. In some cases, if you paint over a water stain it will resurface over a larger area of the affected wall or ceiling.

That is why you need to immediately call in a water damage cleanup specialist if you see stains on the walls and ceilings. In many cases, this can be caused by a hidden plumbing issue that will need immediate attention. 

Flaking or Peeling Paint

Similar to ceiling and wall stains, peeling or flaking paint is a major tell that your home is experiencing water damage. When your drywall is exposed to excess moisture, the moisture will try to escape through the wall or ceiling, which in turn will cause the paint to lift off its surface. This is due to the fact that walls tend to absorb any and all moisture like a sponge. As a result, water damage near any drywall can spread quite easily.

Soft or Swollen Drywall

Water damage, when left unaddressed, can often cause walls and ceilings to appear swollen. In some extreme cases, the swelling can eventually cause your ceiling to sag. This can potentially be hazardous to anything fragile in your home, as well as put your family in danger.

Warped Walls

Water damage can often lead to warped walls, as the sheetrock behind your walls can be incredibly absorbent. As the sheetrock absorbs more water the wall itself will warp, which can lead to very serious structural damage to your home. This kind of structural damage can be very expensive to fix, so try to identify water damage before it gets this far.

A Strange or Musty Smell in the House

If your eyes cannot spot signs of water damage in your home, maybe your nose can! When water is absorbed into your home’s building materials such as wood or drywall, it has a distinctive, musty scent. Not only that, but you may also be able to smell the presence of mold in your house, which is typically a sign of further water damage. If you detect a musty smell in your house, try to pinpoint the location, as this may be the origin of your water leak or another type of water damage. 

Mold on Your Baseboards and Walls 

Mold thrives in dark and damp places, which means that water damage is a breeding ground for all kinds of mold. It also means that spotting mold that is hiding in the darkest corners of your home may be very difficult. Typically, mold can be seen behind furniture and in crevices that aren’t easily detected by the naked eye.

However, any sign of mold is a cause for alarm. Mold means that your house is likely experiencing some kind of water damage, but mold itself is also quite dangerous and can lead to various health issues. If you spot any mold in your house, you need to call in a mold remediation specialist as soon as possible. A Mold remediation specialist will be able to safely remove any mold from your home, as well as identify the root cause of the mold’s growth.

How Do I Test For Water Damage or Leaks?

If you witness one or more of the above warning signs of water damage in your home or have identified one of the 4 Sneaky Causes of Water Damage in your Home, you will want to contact a water damage restoration expert to identify and fix the water leak. 

If you want to be totally sure that you have a water leak before calling in an expert, there is an easy way to test if you have water leaking somewhere in your house. Below are the steps to take to test to see if your home is leaking water.

  1. Turn off all water in your home. This includes faucets, appliances that use water (such as a freezer that makes ice), and any other water outlet in your house. 
  2. Go to your water meter and write down the usage statistics
  3. Wait 3 hours with the water off, and then go to the water meter and check the water usage statistics again. 
  4. If your water usage has gone up in any way over the span of three hours with all of your water turned off, then you have a water leak somewhere in your home. 
  5. If you are still not sure, you can check out the top 8 places to look for water damage

What Should I Do If I Have Signs of Water Damage

If you spot any evidence of water damage, you need to be proactive in containing the issue. Start by checking surrounding rooms or ceilings of rooms below the affected area for signs of water damage. Once you have evaluated the extent of damage, check the roof or plumbing for leaks to prevent any future water damage. If you aren’t sure, your water restoration expert can help identify problem areas in your home. Make sure to contact a water damage restoration specialist as soon as possible.

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Water Damage Restoration in San Diego From Certified Restoration

If your home falls victim to water damage, do not hesitate to call Certified Restoration with any concerns you may have regarding water damage in your home. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help San Diego residents efficiently and effectively fix any signs of water damage. If you are interested in learning more about the signs of water damage in your home or need water damage cleanup services, contact Certified Restoration in San Diego today by calling 619-234-2500.