How to Detect Water Damage Around Your Home

Water damage can leave some serious consequences in your home and result in structural damages and an array of other issues.

Therefore, it is very important to deal with it on time or as soon as you notice any sign of damage.

However, water damage can be sneaky and quite hard to detect sometimes. There are even some signs that homeowners may not attribute to water damage and leaks.

That is why we have put together this practical guide for homeowners, describing the most common places where water damage may appear as well as which forms it can take.

Where to Look

Water damage may appear in various places inside and outside your house, but there are certain areas where it appears more often than in others, i.e. areas that are at higher risk.

If you suspect you may have water damage or if you are simply doing a routine inspection, follow our checklist and inspect the following areas that are the most prone to water damage:

Walls and Ceilings

One of the most obvious places and the clearest signs that you have water damage is water stains or darker spots on your walls and ceilings.

Pay special attention to the window frames and doors as well and look for any unusual or darker spots and stains. They will usually be indicators of burst pipes or leaks in your pipes or the roof.

When it comes to the ceilings, there are additional sources of leaks that can cause damage in these areas.

If the room with the damaged ceiling is on the top story of your house, then the first thing that should cross your mind is a leaky roof. The water damage can come from rain or from the snow that is melting on your roof.  

Attic and Roof

Water damage very often starts in the attics and on the roofs. Therefore, make sure to check them every once in a while, or if you’ve noticed stains on your walls.

Apart from the stains, other signs that you have a leak in the attic is mold and swollen insulation. When it comes to the roof, you will notice curled or cracked shingle