What Does Water Damage Look Like? Key Warning Signs
Spot water damage at your house
Highlights
Water damage can take on many different forms in a home.
While some homeowners are first alerted to water damage by a musty odor, others will see staining or warping.
Even some strange noises in your home could actually be signs of water damage.
It's important to address water damage with professional help as quickly as possible to reduce the amount of damage being done.
The average cost for water damage remediation is $3,780.
What does water damage look like? Water damage at your home can take on many forms that range from staining to odors. Based on the source of the water damage, you'll need to bring in a licensed plumber or remediation expert to fix the issue. Some states also require professional mold inspectors to assess water-damaged homes.
Why Water Damage Is Dangerous
Water damage should never be ignored because it can produce both immediate and long-term health and safety risks for your household. If you have active water flow in your home, your electrical system could be at risk for fire. Ongoing moisture in a home can lead to mildew and mold, which can have devastating health consequences. What's more, a mold infestation can make a home uninhabitable.
Signs of Water Damage
With water damage potentially starting from many different places in a home, the signs can look different based on the source of your leakage or excess moisture. Water damage can also present differently based on where water is pooling. Here's a look at the top signs you have water damage in your home.
1. Musty Odor
A strong musty odor is often the first thing that tips a homeowner off when water damage is present. Generally, the musty odor will be the first sign of water damage you notice if the water is located in an obscured or hidden area of the home. That musty smell hitting your nose is actually caused by a buildup of harmful microbial compounds. There's also a good chance that the musty smell is accompanied by mold. If you're having a hard time identifying the source of a musty odor, start with the basement, crawl spaces, or other areas that tend to be dark and damp.
2. Water Stains or Discoloration
Have you noticed splotches or discoloration coming through your walls, floors, or ceilings? These stains often have a yellowish color. Unfortunately, staining and discoloration are usually telltale signs that you have a water leak occurring somewhere within your home's walls or ceiling.
3. Unexplained Humidity
Is an area of your home experiencing humidity or dampness that doesn't quite make sense? This strange occurrence may be caused by an undetected water leak that is adding moisture to the air. If you feel moisture "bleeding" from counters or walls, it's time to hunt for a nearby leak.
4. A Higher Water Bill
Here's one sign of a water leak that might catch you by surprise. While you may not have noticed a visible leak in your home, your wallet may be leaking money due to a higher-than-average water bill. A sudden spike in your water bill could be a sign that water is constantly flowing somewhere in your home. You'll want to bring in a plumber immediately to find out where all of this excess water might be pooling.
5. Dripping Sounds
While phantom dripping noises in your house may have you wondering if you're suffering from an overactive imagination, there's actually a good chance that the sounds are being caused by a hidden leak. Dripping sounds can be so subtle that we may not be able to hear them when the television is on. As a result, it can seem like they only start in the middle of the night when everyone is asleep. What can make pinning down dripping sounds especially difficult is that they don't often sound like they are being caused by water. In fact, the subtle rushing or scratching noises caused by moving water can be mistaken for mice or squirrels. While there are many potential culprits behind these dripping sounds, one common one is water leaking from vents in the ceiling.
6. Warping, Peeling, Sagging, or Soft Spots
The paint and wood in your home may be giving you clues that you have water damage. First, any peeling paint, paint bubbling on the wall, or soggy wallpaper that you notice is likely caused by moisture that's trapped behind your walls. If floorboards are warping or sagging, these are common signs of water damage. Finally, feeling any kind of softness in a wall, floor, or ceiling indicates water damage.
7. Unexplained Sickness
What does water damage look like when there are no visible signs? Your health can sometimes give you clues that your home has water damage. Has anyone in your household been dealing with ongoing respiratory issues that don't seem to have a cause? In homes where water damage has caused mold, it's common for people to experience asthma attacks, respiratory infections, or ongoing allergic reactions.
8. Visible Mold
What does water damage look like in dangerous cases? While mold often sneaks up on people to cause respiratory and health issues, not all mold is hard to find. If you notice the appearance of mold anywhere in your home, there's a good chance that your home has either ongoing or arrested water issues. You should never attempt to handle mold on your own. Only a licensed mold remediation expert should deal with mold.
How to Know You Need to Hire a Pro for Water Damage
The high stakes of water damage make calling in a pro necessary! If you're wondering who to call for water damage in the ceiling, floor, walls, or any other parts of your home, the first step starts with identifying the source of the water. If you need help getting a leak diagnosed, you'll need to hire a locally licensed plumber to access potentially broken pipes or valves located within your walls, floors, or ceilings. If you suspect that you have a mold problem, the difference between water damage vs mold is that a licensed mold testing remediation expert will need to perform an evaluation.
Can I DIY Water Damage Repairs?
If you suspect that there's an ongoing leak, you can turn off the main water source to your household while waiting for a professional to assess the situation. However, it is not recommended that you attempt to repair your home if it's been damaged by water. Risks for mold exposure, electrocution, and further damage to your home are simply too high for this to be recommended as a DIY task. If you have ongoing water pooling, a remediation expert will need to pump the water out of your home before any kind of remediation can start. If you have questions, contact a local water damage restoration company.
How to Prevent Water Damage
While water damage from weather events or burst pipes isn't always preventable, there are many ways homeowners can avoid water damage. Having your home's plumbing system routinely inspected can help you stay ahead of leaks caused by system failures. If you live in an area known for intense weather, verifying that your roof, basement, doors, and windows are all in good condition can help prevent leaks or flooding. Finally, upgrading to an HVAC system with a dehumidifier can help to prevent mold. If you do notice a leak or excess moisture, acting quickly can save you money. By getting a pro in to begin fixing the issue within 24 hours, you may dramatically reduce the amount of damage that is done.
How Much Does Water Damage Repair Cost?
On average, water damage restoration costs $3,780. Water damage restoration costs can vary based on the severity of the damage, how much of your home was affected, and any additional services needed to make your home safe and livable following water damage. If your ceiling was damaged by water, average costs can range from $450 to $1,600. Cleaning up a sewage backup in a basement could cost $2,800 or more. If drywall or flooring has sustained water damage, costs for repair or replacement could range from $200 to $800. If mold has been discovered, mold removal costs $2,225 on average. It's important to get multiple quotes from local water damage remediation companies to be able to choose the best option.
Frequently Asked Questions
In general, most homeowners’ insurance policies cover water damage caused by burst pipes, roof leaks, leaking appliances, broken washer hoses, and overflowing toilets if they are determined to be "sudden and accidental." However, gradual leaks or leaks caused by homeowner negligence may not be covered. Does homeowners insurance cover water damage caused by floods? In most cases, water damage caused by flooding is not covered unless a homeowner has separate flood insurance.
Mold remediators handle this on a case-by-case basis. If the mold is isolated in a specific area of your home, your remediation expert may tell you that it's safe to remain in the home. However, there will be situations where evacuating the home is the safer option. Living in a home while mold remediation is going on is potentially dangerous because tiny mold spores can become airborne while work is being done.