Six Signs that Water Damage May Be Affecting Your Home

10/16/2020 (Permalink)

Call the professionals to help with your water damage mitigation!

Water damage may be fairly simple to spot if you are a hands-on homeowner that fixes and repairs issues as they arise. The problem with water damage to foundations is that you can't see the damage that is occurring, therefore it can easily be overlooked.

Nevertheless, the key to minimizing the extent of the damage is always to identify and address it as soon as possible.

How are you supposed to repair the issue if you don’t know that there is water damage in the first place?

Luckily for you, SERVPRO of Western Lancaster County is here to help you identify whether or not your structure is being impacted by water damage. Below, there are six (6) signs and symptoms to keep your eyes on:

Symptom One: Water Below Ground

If you are routinely dealing with standing water in your basement, you are likely  getting a little stressed out. As a consolation, however, it does mean that you can be reasonably sure of a foundation problem. Standing water only accumulates and sits in a basement if drainage systems are not functioning properly.

Symptom Two: Overly Damp Soil

If you speculate that there could be an issue with moisture, take a look at the soil around the foundations of the property. If it is unusually wet (even after days without rain), there is a good chance that groundwater is seeping into the foundation.

Symptom Three: Water in the Crawlspace

Standing water or condensation and moisture building up within a crawlspace is a pretty good sign that something is wrong with the foundation, circulation of air, lack of adequate insulation, or burst pipe. If it is too damp in this area, the quality of the air in your house can decline, and it may give off a musty odor.

Symptom Four: Sagging and Bowing Floors

A lot of homeowners walk up and down uneven floors for years before they spot a problem. You can test the level of your own with nothing more than a small rubber ball. Unless you know of a reason the foundation is or could be unlevel and not caused by water damage, imbalances should be checked out immediately. They can indicate soil erosion due to water.

Symptom Five: Slimy Patches Outside

When the water from rains and storms is draining away from the property in a secure and efficient manner, it never spends enough time close to the building to have a lasting impact. On the other hand, if groundwater is pooling, you may be able to spot slimy and moldy patches on the outer walls of your home.

Symptom Six: Mal-functioning Doorframes or windows

This might sound like a surprising sign, but if your doorframes used to open and close correctly, but have recently started to stick, the problem could be moisture related. It may be a sign that the doorframes have begun to warp, from excessive water absorption.

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Call SERVPRO of Western Lancaster County for any unwanted water damaging situations that may occur on your property. We are experts in water removal, cleanup, and water damage restoration. We will recondition your home "Like it never even happened."

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We’re Highly Trained Water Damage Specialists

As leaders in the water damage industry, SERVPRO of Western Lancaster County has advanced expertise and training, not to mention a tremendous amount of hands-on experience. Call us 24/7 for help at (717) 665-1270