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3 Signs Your Walls Have Water Damage

Water damage is a serious concern that can cause significant damage if not fixed. However, sometimes it can be difficult to tell if your home might have this problem, especially if it’s behind your walls. Below you’ll find a few ways on how to tell if your residence might have water damage.

What Causes Water Damage?

There are a variety of things that can cause water damage. One of the most common is because of a burst pipe. A broken pipe can result because of old age or extreme temperature changes.
Other causes of water damage include clogged sewer lines, a broken garbage disposal, or a frozen fire sprinkler.

Dangers of Water Damage

Water damage can cause quite a few serious issues that range from structural damage to health concerns. Some of the most common problems and dangers caused by it include:

  • Wall cracks
  • An uneven home foundation
  • Asthma
  • Electrical damage
  • High water bills

3 Signs Your Walls Have Water Damage

There are Musty Odors in Your Home: The most obvious sign that you might have water damage hidden behind your walls is a lingering musty odor in your home. This smell is because of mold growth. Because there is a wet surface for the spores to grow on, they will start to break down the wall’s structure creating chemical compounds that form this nasty aroma.
The Walls are Peeling or Bubbling: Another sign that your walls have water damage is that they are peeling or bubbling. Paint or wallpaper tends to absorb water, especially if they are on drywall. If there are leaks, they will soak in the water causing them to shrink. This can result in your wall having a peeling or bubbling effect.

There are Mold Splotches: If you have brown or gray spots on your wall, it indicates you have a mold problem. Damp walls invite mold spores to grow and spread. This can cause unsightly splotches to appear. If the water isn’t removed, the mold will only continue to spread until your entire wall is covered in it. Most of the time mold starts growing at the bottom of a wall and will work its way up.

Water damage can cause serious problems if not caught early and fixed. In Sonoma County, RCS offers numerous services that can help with this. We also have mold remediation which works to quickly treat and remove mold caused by water damage.