Before either buying or selling a home, it is important that you know how to check a house for water damage. It could, after all, end up costing you a lot in case you shouldn’t see it before purchasing. Or, as a seller, you may end up with a claim in a few years from now when the buyers are suffering from health problems from mold.
Water, however useful it is, can really cause a lot of damage to a house that we won’t even be able to spot immediately.
Structural issues, a damp environment, and a playground for mold to grow and thrive are all a part of the package when it comes to water damage and you should try to fix it before it develops further.
Here are some tips in terms of spotting damage by water and leaks so that you’re able to notice it before it’s too late.
First: Look at the walls and ceiling
If you have ever seen a house or an apartment that had a problem with a flood, leak, or just general damage from water, you know that the walls are the first thing you should check. Usually, you will be able to spot water stains both on the walls and in the ceiling but remember to have a look around the windows as well.
Any unusual signs of water must be taken seriously as it could be caused by a leaky pipe, a busted appliance, or a drain inside the wall.
While this won’t leak into your home directly, it will slowly but surely continue to deteriorate the building and you may be left with a huge structural issue at the end of the day. An area that has been exposed to water may be swollen as well, by the way, and rather soft to the touch.
Use your eyes and hands to figure out how bad the damage is and you might be able to fix it before the damage is too much. Get in touch with a public adjuster as well as your insurance company, by the way, to make sure that you get the compensation you deserve.
Next: Look at the floor
If you have ever been in a room that had a water problem, you probably know what the floor will look like. Generally bulky and perhaps a bit soft, a floor with water damage is definitely not smooth anymore.
Make sure that you check the basement properly as well, by the way, as this is the area in the house that tends to be more affected by water damage than others.
Another point is to use your nose and smell for any dampness or musty odors. If you can’t see any direct signs of water damage but the musty smell is so strong you’d rather hold your nose, the house is quite likely to have a mold problem. Where there is mold, there is usually dampness, so this is a sure sign to follow.
Even if you’re not in the process of buying or selling a house at the moment, it’s a good idea to keep an eye and nose out for signs of humidity and moistness in your home. Check the windows for condensation, for example, and get rid of the problem before it gets to you.
She has a B.S.Ed. in Secondary Education/English and a Spanish Minor. In addition, she holds a Certificates in Natural Health and Herbology from accredited programs. She pursued these natural wellness certifications due to her love for herb gardening.
Despite freelancing to make a living, her love is "all things home."
Deborah grew up in a family that grew a large vegetable garden and a fruit orchard, helping her parents pull weeds and can home-grown foods as part of her childhood. In fact, she had no idea that she could purchase veggies and fruits in pre-packed steel cans until she went to college and made a food run.
Today, she lives in Bertie County, North Carolina, an agricultural rural area with more chickens than people. She lives with her husband and two rescue pets a sweet toy fox terrier and a cat who showed up one day and moved into the house. Together, they enjoy DIY projects, furniture refinishing, gardening, and canning.
