Water damage is a likely occurrence when your home gets exposed to excess water. Storms, floods, hurricanes, and other disasters typically bring about water damage to homes. In some instances, there can be obvious signs of water damage such as having standing flood water in your home. Other times, water damage can be a result of leaks that may not be that obvious. This may lead you to perform water damage restoration when it’s too late. To protect yourself from hidden water damage, you need to be aware of the following potential problems that can tell of water damage…

High Utility Bills

One sign of water damage that you may not realize is having higher utility bills than usual. This is especially true for water bills. If you start to notice an unusual increase in your water bills, it could mean that water is leaking somewhere in your home. Apart from these high water costs, water leaks in the pipes can cause serious damage to your walls. Be sure to contact a professional water restoration service to check for any water damage in your home.

In some cases, high heating costs could also indicate water damage. This is because the moisture in your home will be drawing heat from the environment for evaporation. This causes your home to get colder, requiring more heating.

Mold Growth

Mold tends to thrive in moist environments. If you notice mold growth in areas such as the basement, it could mean that your house may be suffering from water damage.

When storms or other disasters cause structural damage to your home, its water tightness may get compromised. Water from outside could therefore be seeping into your home and causing certain areas to be damp and grow mold. Water damage is therefore a possibility in such a situation.

Soft Or Discolored Spots

You may notice sudden discolored spots in your ceiling or walls. There may also be streaks running down the walls. These can have somewhere between a yellow and a brownish color. This discoloration is likely to signify wet spots in these areas.

If and when hard surfaces such as a hardwood floor, floorboards, or a carpet suddenly starts to feel soft, this is a warning sign that water could be slowly leaking into the affected areas and causing damage.

Warping

Wood is naturally susceptible to warping even without water. This could happen as a result of long periods of exposure to the sun. Still, warped wood around your windows could be a sign of water damage. This is more likely to be the case if you have recently experienced a storm.

If tiles, laminated or wooden floors in your home start to bend or fold, then it may signify damage from water. Another sign that water may be seeping in is if the paint in your walls begins to peel, crack, or flake. If you notice any of this, you should have the house checked for water damage.

Cracks In The Foundation

Water issues could also be going on beneath the surface of your home. If this happens, then it means that water has gotten into the soil surrounding your home. By doing so, it introduces pressure into the soil which can even cause your foundation to crack. This could also result in cracks in the basement. Water can therefore gain entry into your basement. If you spot this, you should immediately call a water damage restoration company.

Musty Smells

Water damage may not always show itself visually. It can also be identified by smell. Dampness usually has an unmistakable smell. This is usually a musty odor which could be coming from the wet/moldy areas in your home. The surrounding air may also feel damp and humid. These are signs that you need to have the place checked out for water damage.

Summary:

Your house may appear healthy at first glance even though it may be facing underlying water damage. Ignoring problems for a long time can lead to extensive damages and repairs. To avoid this, follow the aforementioned tips on how to spot water damage and call a water damage restoration service when needed.