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Sometimes water damage is obvious. When the local creek jumps its bank and floods your home, you KNOW you need to get qualified water damage cleanup staff over there immediately. But sometimes you don’t know you have had a leak or an accumulation of water. Over time, a dripping faucet or leaky roof going unnoticed can cause serious structural damage.
Clogged gutters, drain pipes, and downspouts can be a precursor of trouble ahead. Next time you have bad weather, these can lead to water issues inside the house.
Knowing the signs of water damage can help you prevent more expensive problems. According to the American Insurance Associate, more than 90% of analyzed water damage claims could have been avoided with proper care and maintenance of known problems.
It’s human nature to put off repairs. It’s also natural to assume that DIY fixes are within the skill set of every homeowner. The reality is that the visible damage you can see often covers up a more substantial level of damage. Before the integrity of your home is seriously compromised, get a professional team onsite to check it out. Technicians from Kade Cleaning are much more experienced in finding subtle signs of trouble than the average person.
Look out for common signs of water damage in your home. If you see any of these, call Kade Cleaning Systems:
Discoloration on the ceiling and the interior walls can look like smudges, shadows, streaks on the paint surface or paneling. If any nails in the structure are behind or above the leak, they will start to rust and you’ll see orangy streaks.
Another telltale sign of hidden water damage is peeling paint. When the drywall gets saturated, the paint loses the ability to adhere (or stick) to the wall. Water damage also can get behind the drywall on your ceiling; watch for cracks, bubbles, or flakes.
Sometimes you won’t be able to see water damage, but you might be able to hear it. If you hear a dripping sound or running water when the house is quiet, you need to investigate. For example, if the flapper in the toilet tank is worn out, you might be able to hear water running, squeaking, or whistling.
An unusually high usage of water could be an indicator of a hidden leak. According to the EPA, a leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year. Unfortunately, it’s common that 10% of all homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day. The good news is that fixing those easy leaks can save homeowners about 10 percent on their water bills.
When your drywall or ceiling gets saturated by water, the compromised structures will lose integrity. You might notice gaps along the baseboards. Sagging ceilings and walls could collapse, not only causing damage to your property, but also becoming a safety hazard.
Individual mold spores are microscopic and invisible to the eye. But as a colony quickly grows, it can grow into fuzzy discolorations in isolated spaces. Some molds are white and thread-like. Others appear in clusters of small back spots like a dusting of black pepper or cinnamon. The most common colors are dark green, brown, orange or black.
Sometimes when your home is growing mold, you can’t see it but you can smell it. Damp, musty, or moldy smells can be a big indicator of water damage. When a dark, poorly ventilated area in your home stays damp, it creates a breeding ground for bacteria and mold. As they reproduce, they give off Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that we recognize as earthy, mushroomy or “locker roomy.” Don’t wait until you can see the evidence, trust your nose.
Mold can quickly begin growing if there has been water damage and this can start a cascade of health problems. For people that are susceptible, mold can cause irritation to the eyes, lungs and skin. In the worst cases, mold can exacerbate asthma symptoms.
When you discover water or signs of prior water damage, Kade Cleaning Systems is available to respond 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Count on Kade to care and protect your home. We will work quickly and professionally to get your house and life back to normal.
If this is an emergency, please call (816) 888-9653 for immediate help 24/7.
(816) 888-9653