Finding Hidden Water Damage

Water damage is always unexpected. There’s often no way to predict it – unless it is a recurring problem. And even then, it’s a frustrating, inconvenient situation that can become more costly the longer it continues without action or intervention. An obvious water damage event is one thing – but what about when you have hidden water damage? This includes events like a leak in your attic, a pipe that breaks behind the wall, or other circumstances where it can take days to notice. These cases of dealing with hidden water damage are difficult, but fortunately, your local team at Restoration 1 of Durham-Raleigh can get you through it successfully. Here are some things to keep in mind when dealing with hidden water damage in your residential or commercial property.

The Damage Can Extend to Multiple Areas

When water damage is hidden, it often takes a while before you notice any physical effects. This can be especially detrimental if your leak or burst pipe occurs on an upper level. Here, you can expect the water to drip and begin to saturate walls and ceilings. The longer it goes undetected, the more water is released. With that being said, you need to take action as soon as the water has been spotted, and be thorough, too. If you notice the floor around the source of the leak is wet, check the ceiling below to see if there is any water seeping through yet. If not, you will still need to open up the floor in order to get it dry, and potentially reinforced and resealed.

The Area Needs to Be Dried

After the water has been shut off and the leak stopped, the number one priority needs to be getting the area completely dried out. To do this effectively, you can expect to open up the walls, and as mentioned earlier, the floor. Especially when it comes to drywall, it’s very hard to salvage after long-term water absorption. Mold risk aside, water-damaged drywall gains an odd texture and a sort of warping, so you are better off replacing it anyway, both for durability and looks. To get the area dried as quickly as possible, you’ll need to have industrial fans going around the clock for as long as needed. Permanent repairs – and that means proper permanent repairs – cannot get underway without this step.

Dehumidifying to Prevent Mold

As you are drying, you need to be dehumidifying as well. Especially if the water episode you just had was substantial, it may need more than a few hours to dry. Remember that in the right conditions, mold only needs a single day to begin growing. A mold infestation is the last thing you need after the initial shock of discovering water damage. Mold can pose a serious risk to the health of your family, or your employees and customers. The longer anyone is exposed, the worse the impact, so it’s best to take steps now to prevent it. Keep in mind that if you discovered the hidden damage from a mildew-like smell, you probably have mold already, and will require professional services to take the proper removal and cleaning steps.

We Can Handle Any Water Damage or Mold Growth

When you find a hidden source of water damage and think it’s too much for anyone to handle, think again. At Restoration 1 of Durham-Raleigh, we can handle a water damage event or mold infestation of any size you may encounter in a residential or commercial property. Call us anytime, 24 hours a day.