Water is life, but at the same, it can be destructive for your property. Water damages in homes can be due to many reasons, and you must know how to deal with them. This is because unattended water damages can make things worse in no time. Water damage not only spreads quickly around your property, but it can also result in the growth of mildew and mould, which can affect any surface it comes into contact with.
This guide contains all the necessary info that you will need to prevent water damages in your home timely and efficiently. If you need further assistance on damp related problems, a damp specialist can be contacted to survey and diagnose your damp.
Some Signs of Internal Water Damages
Look out for water rings on the walls or ceiling. Usually, water rings are large and straightforward to identify, but you should also look for minor water stains on the roof and walls. If you don’t see water rings or stains on ceilings but suspect a leak, listen for leakages inside the walls at night.
Soft or sagging spots near a shower and sinks. These spots are usually caused by water leaking from the pipe or appliances that are leaked, such as dishwashers or washing machines.
Cracked or warped flooring. Water cans easily affect all types of flooring and develop cracks as it seeps in. Usually, warped or cracked flooring is easy to identify, but it is not that simple to locate wet flooring. Similarly, you should check and inspect the corners and rooms with carpets as minor water damage is a little difficult to notice in these parts.
Look for watermarks or discolouration under the sink. Damp kitchen cabinets and mildew are definite signs of pipe leakage. In this case, call a plumber immediately to fix this issue.
Pay attention to new repairs. Look for patch jobs on ceilings, walls, and windows. Also, pay attention to the areas with heavier paint. These temporary and “quick fixes” are usually done to hide water damages.
Use your smelling power. If you feel that there is any mould or musty smell, chances are it’s due to the water damages.
How Water Damage Happens
Water damages are severe; they can easily affect what lays underneath your floors, walls, and ceilings, and sometimes there are no signs at all.
Water damage can happen due to structural weakness, such as damaged floorings or cracks in the walls.
Many homes have basements, and it is the most commonly affected parts by water. When the basement leaks, it can damage your property and other appliances such as heaters and furnaces. Similarly, it can also damage your stored equipment and belongings.
Different types of Damp
In total, there are six types of damps. Damp problems are quite common, and your home can be affected by any one of these six damp types or a combination of all. Furthermore, each type has a different treatment, so keep in mind that there is no single treatment for all damp problems.
Below we will discuss each of them along with their features/signs.
1) Condensation – It is Damp from the Air
It is the most common one and is usually caused due to no or improper ventilation. You will see it when humid air smashes against cold surfaces and then condenses on them. Following are some signs of Condensation:
You will mostly find it in corners, near openings or windows, behind cupboards, or in places where airflow is minimum.
Black patches of mould are major signs of condensation.
In some cases, it can appear on walls or under floors.
If it’s around your cupboard, then your clothes will smell like damp furnishings.
2) Rising damp – Damp from the surface
Perhaps the most lethal damp type. It occurs when water from the surface or walls escalate up through the blocks and plaster of a wall. Mostly, it is found and affects the basement or ground floors because these are foundations.
Rising damp occurs and shows up in many ways, like skirting boards decaying, you may notice fluffy deposits on your walls or plaster.
It is common in homes that have remodelled their original floor type to concrete.
You may see white salt crystals on your walls or plaster; it is a sign of rising damp.
Another common feature of rising damp is peeling paint or wallpaper.
3) Penetrating damp
Penetrating damp occurs when moisture doesn’t find any way to escape and seep in the wall or structure, or it can also occur due to the excessive moisture that surpluses the escape way.
If you see damage plaster or wear and tear signs, it can be due to penetrating damp.
Floors or walls with dry or wet decay are signs of high moisture level and penetrating damp.
If you notice any musty, damp smell, this indicates penetrating damp in your property.
4) Chemical damp
It occurs due to contamination of the plaster with natural salts. The salts absorb dampness or moisture from the air.
Usually, it is found on surfaces that are plastered.
If you notice chimney breasts, it is chemical damp.
Brown stains or patches on the wall indicate chemical damp.
5) Damp from plumbing
This mainly happens due to poor plumbing. It can happen because of the metal or material used in the plumbing fixtures. It can also occur due to rust or corrosion on plumbing joints.
You will see small damp patches near plumbing pipes.
It is common in homes with heating pipes concealed under concrete floors.
If you notice plaster bubbling up around the patches, it is an indication of plumbing damp.
6) Damp from surfaces drying out
This occurs typically when deep or too much moisture within a wall or floor tries to escapes. If this happens, it may take many months or even years to dry thoroughly.
Shows up as wet spots or patches without brown or white stains.
It is common after building work, flooding, or old pipe leakage.
In the end:
We hope that this guide provides you with valuable insights about water damages in your home and different types of damp. If you have any of these problems, handle them timely and adequately before it spreads.
