Crawl spaces, attics, and basements are very prone to water damage. You can generally see an appliance leak pretty quickly, however issues such as the ones inside interior walls can remain entirely hidden for weeks and maybe months. Our Long Beach Water Damage Experts suggest you keep an eye out for any signs of discoloration, dampness , mold, and scents.
Mature Water Stains
If you find damp areas, we suggest you act right away as the challenge is easier to track down. When people reach out and call a local water damage experts, most of the time they think they know where the leak is originating from, just to find out later they were wrong.
That’s because water can travel quite a distance, even upwards. As a result, a professional inspection or leak detection is generally much better than just fixing what may or may not be the main cause.
Building Leaks
Roof leaks are sometimes the cause, but not always the case. Aside from a leaky pipe in the attic, there may potentially be condensation plumbing (or just about any surface for that matter).
Utilizing a filthy gutter or blocked downspout water can make its way into the attic then down to the ceiling. You have to understand that roof leakages aren’t always because of bad or missing shingles. Damaged or poorly installed flashing around chimneys, vent pipes, and joints can also be a challenge.
The seals around skylights can get older, and the sky light itself can crack. Other common construction leaks happen at the seals windows and doors, as well as at caulking where they unite the wall.
Siding and stucco can be damaged, and the joints between a deck and the house are also susceptible to leaks.
Plumbing and Appliances
A bit surprisingly, clothes washers are the number one cause of home flooding and water damage. Sure they sometimes overflow or their drain gets clogged, but older washer hoses can burst and release several hundred gallons of water before you even know it.
This is why you should not forget dishwashers, garbage disposals, and ice makers. A plumbing leak that seems small may be more severe than you might ever imagine. Leaky pipes can easily release a few hundred gallons each month, overpowering evaporation. Furthermore, sump pumps can fail, and bathtubs can overflow.
And whether you have central A/C or a window air conditioner, condensation can flow to where it can gradually cause mold and other water damage.
Humidity and Condensation
As you may have gathered, what seems like a leak may, in fact, create condensation. That’s a frequent issue with toilets in bathrooms with showers.
It is crucial to make that all sure that the kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans are working and that their vents are free of obstructions. Additionally, condensation on windows can trickle down and cause water damage on the frame and windowsills.
If you aware of this happening often, think about using a dehumidifier or installing a whole-house dehumidifier.