During this spring season, many areas of Colorado have experienced record rainfall. In some communities, over 12 inches of rain have fallen in the month of May alone.
While this abundance of rain is beneficial to crops and grass, it has the potential to cause serious moisture damage to homes. This damage can costs thousands of dollars in repair cost for homeowners.
Now is the time for homeowners to develop their moisture detection skills. It is important to know how to spot moisture damage before it progresses to a point of no return. There are 8 ways in which a person with an untrained eye can detect moisture damage.
1. Look for water stains. Water stains are one of the most clear indications of moisture damage in a home. Although it may be difficult to tell the origin of the moisture, the presence of water stains or spots on walls, door frames and around the windows should prompt homeowners to take corrective action.
2. Pay close attention to the condition of the flooring. When moisture damages a wood floor, it will buckle because the wood swells. The buckling can also be felt upon walking on the floor. If there is carpeting in the room, the carpet will feel damp or extremely wet depending on the extent of the moisture damage.
3. Manually check areas made of wood in and around the house. Areas such as window sills and baseboards can offer valuable clues in detecting moisture damage. If the wood in these areas crumbles when it is touched, then moisture damage is present.
4. Listen carefully. If moisture damage is suspected, turn off all of the appliances in the home and listen for leaks. On rainy days, pay close attention to the sounds of rain hitting the roof.
5. Let the nose do the work. Moisture damage has a distinct smell. When a room contains the smell of mold and mildew, moisture damage is present.
6. Check the pipes. Walk through the home and visually inspect all of your pipes. If a pipe is the source of moisture damage, then signs of missing grout, loose caulking and rusty pipes will be present.
7. Inspect the roof of the home. The presence of discolored shingles, soft spots and holes in the roof are clear indications of water damage. If you are uncomfortable inspecting your roof, our experienced Littleton roofers can take a look for you.
Knowing how to detect moisture damage provides homeowners with the tools needed to stop moisture damage in its tracks. It is important to fix the origin of the moisture damage before the home is ruined. If moisture damage is present, it should be corrected immediately.
