Water damage is one of the most devastating and expensive problems that you could encounter. While floor and ceiling damage is easy to spot, there are places that you may not have thought to look. To help you avoid water damage in your home, the experts at Resto Pros are here to advise you on where to check for hidden water damage, and to offer our professional assessment and repair services.

Spotting the Signs

  1. Mold or Mildew Odor: One of the most detectable signs of water damage is odor. If you can detect the smell of mold, mildew or other muggy odors, it is likely that you have a water damage problem in your home.
  2. Accumulation of Water: This is one of the most visible signs of potential water damage, and usually occurs as a result of malfunctioning or improperly installed appliances (such as dishwashers, tubs, showers, toilet connections, etc.).
  3. Pooling Water: This is another form of water accumulation that is easy to spot. Pooling water is usually a sign of a leaking roof or faulty drainage pipes.
  4. Discoloration: Water spots and stains are a major sign of ceiling water damage. These stains may appear wet or dry and are usually a yellow or brown color. In addition to these ceiling stains, you may observe that your wallpaper or paint is bubbling, cracking or peeling.
  5. Texture Changes: To spot floor water damage, look for warping of floorboards, buckling of wooden floorboards, Sagging or sinking, and expansion of wood and laminate floors.

Hidden Places to Check in Your Home

Now that you know what signs you need to look for, here are some often overlooked places in your home to examine for water damage:

Behind Your Refrigerator

Even if you do not move your refrigerator that often, over time the water line connection to the icemaker can still weaken or break. This will cause leaks behind the refrigerator that often go undetected.

Plastic P-Traps

This is an important one, because every sink in your home will have a plastic p-trap. Usually made of expanding and contracting PVC pipe, the plastic p-trap connects your sink to your home waste drain pipe. Over time, the p-trap will become loose, resulting in water leaks.

*Pro Tip: Periodically check plastic p-traps under the sinks in your home and tighten any loose connections to avoid potential leaks.

Hot Water Heater

If you have an older water heater, you will need to keep track of your overflow pan that is piped to drain outside the house. If the pan is not tilted at least ¼ inch, you cannot be ensured that the water is draining properly. For newer water heaters, you will need to periodically check and maintain the quick connectors to keep them properly tightened and lubricated. This will keep the shut-off valve from leaking.

Washing Machine Connections

Because we don’t often move our washing machines unless we are replacing them or moving in or out of a home, leaks and water damage can often go unnoticed until it is too late.

*Pro Tip: During installation process always install a new hose using the rubber washers recommended by the manufacturer. Tighten the connection with vice grips so there are no leaks or drips.

To Review:

-Pay attention to signs of potential water damage such as:

  1. The odor of mold or mildew
  2. Accumulation or pooling of water
  3. Discoloration or stains on ceiling surfaces
  4. Texture changes in your floors

Make sure to check those unexamined places in your home for leaks to stay ahead of water damage. Even though you have now learned about some of the unexpected places to look for water damage and how to detect the signs, it is always a good idea to have a professional fully assess damage that you may have missed.

If you are in need of such an expert, contact the knowledgeable team at Resto Pros to help you take the next steps in addressing your water damage.