Chapter 4: What to Do if You Discover Moisture Damage
A Hidden Leak…
It can happen. Sometimes, despite your best maintenance - your house can develop a small leak, which you don’t notice until the damage has already begun.
It might be a small crack in the ice maker water line, hidden in the wall. Maybe it’s a leaky window, or a piece of missing flashing Regardless of the source, even a small leak, undetected, can do serious damage to your home.
… or Incomplete Disaster Repair …
Another common cause of unseen, but chronic moisture, is an incomplete restoration in the aftermath of a disaster or accident. That's why all of our service providers are highly trained and insured.
Search and Destroy Mission: The Nose Doesn't Lie
Your own nose can be one of the best diagnostic tools for detecting moisture levels of moisture will often cause new odors and smells to arise. In fact your nose will often pick up the first signs that something is wrong.
You can use your nose to help discover hidden leaks or overlooked moisture trapped in the house after a water damage cleanup has taken place.
Follow your nose around the house until you can zero in on the general area, if not the actual source of the scent. When wet, most materials give off certain types of odors.
Does something smell musty and damp, like wet wood?
Does it smell like grandmas house?
Or like a laundry hamper full of damp towels?
Is the carpet padding still damp?
Some glues smell sweet when they break down from excess moisture.
Where is the odor most noticeable?
Investigate any “off” smells immediately. The sooner the better, too. Don’t shrug off an odor or try to mask the mustiness with room fresheners. That would be like putting a band-aid on a compound fracture. You are really not helping the situation, the problem needs to be addressed and resolved right away! If you do not it will almost always cause more damage and disruption to your life.
What to Do Next?
If you cannot confidently locate the source of the ‘off’ odor yourself and be 100% certain that you can correct the underlying problem, - for example: a clothes hamper full of damp towels is an easily-resolved moisture problem – contact us. The longer you put it off, the worse the problem may become. Our leak and moisture detection services may come in handy.
