It’s easy to notice an overflowing sink. You’ll notice if your basement floods. While these obvious problems are devastating, hidden water damage is worse. Water damage that occurs behind the scenes may not be addressed for months or even years. A slow leak invites mold and rot into your home. Regularly check these five places for water damage. Water damage out of sight and out of mind doesn’t mean it’s not a problem.
On the roof
Individual shingles or tiles can be damaged, allowing rain and dew into the interior of your roof. Because many homes have a layer of insulation beneath the roof, a leak would have to get all the way through the insulation and then through the ceiling of an interior room before being noticed. A roof leak is even harder to notice if you have an attic.
Regularly inspect your roof for signs of damage. A professional restoration service will have to be called if you do find missing or damaged shingles or tiles. Roof repairs can be difficult, and the sooner you catch a leaking roof the better.
Inside appliances
It’s important to consult your owner’s manual to see how often you should have your appliances serviced. Many appliances that use water, call for yearly maintenance to ensure that they stay in great condition. A water leak inside your appliance can cause it to break, and many warranties consider water damage to be a lack of maintenance problem. If you haven’t gotten your appliances inspected on schedule the warranty may not cover water related damages.
Additionally, a faulty appliance leads to a massive water damage emergency. A broken dishwasher can flood your whole kitchen. Likewise a faulty washing machine can leave your laundry room under water.
Inside cracked or missing grout or sealant
Tile floors can endure a lot of hard wear and tear and still look amazing. These hardy surfaces are popular with homeowners for their versatility and long life. Grout, on the other hand, isn’t nearly as strong. If you notice that a piece of your grout has cracked or come out, don’t panic. This is fairly common. Just be sure that you clean and repair it immediately. If water gets into your grout it can linger under your tile floor. Hidden water damage flourishes underneath tile floors. Mold and rot can both set in quickly. If you don’t know how long a piece of grout has been missing, call a professional just to be sure you’re not sealing in problems.
Above your stove
Steam in the air condenses on your wall and ceiling above your stove. Some stoves have a fan or hood to trap the moisture before it reaches your walls. If your stove doesn’t, you should take steps to make sure that the condensation doesn’t stay for long. You may have to manually wipe the walls or ceiling with a towel after cooking to be sure all moisture is gone.
Beneath exterior paneling
Exterior paneling adds a touch of beauty to any home. Most of these panels are simply fitted over your existing walls. If any of the sealant around the edges and joints comes loose, you could have a playground for mold and rot. Regularly check that all sealant is in place, and reapply paint or stains when they begin to wear.
Hidden water damage can cause a host of problems. Regular maintenance increases the odds that you’ll catch problems early. Once you’ve noticed a problem, a professional water restoration team can assess the hidden water damage and make necessary repairs.