Water damage, when left untreated, can cause molds and microbial growth in your home. Mold and other organisms that grow in moist environment release spores, which can compromise your health. This is why you should know the different signs of water damage to fix the issues immediately.  

Before you hire a company that offers water damage restoration services, you need to be sure that your home is leaking water. To help you out, here are five signs that your home is leaking some water and is starting to develop water damage:  

1. You See Mold Or Mildew

Mold and mildew are signs you have water damage, and they can often be detected after a thorough inspection of the entire property. Some molds are toxic while others are non-toxic (safe to inhale without problems).  

Mold can be problematic to people suffering from allergies because of the way that it affects the immune system. Allergies, of course, will vary depending on the individual, but mold spores tend to enter the respiratory system, where they attack it directly, causing irritation and inflammation. As if that were not enough, when these mold spores enter the bloodstream, they also produce histamines, which further irritates the system, creating another problem. 

If there’s a noticeable mold in your home, you may want to consider calling a mold remediation company for a thorough cleaning and removal. It would also help if you looked around the exterior of the walls and roof for any discolored or damaged areas that may suggest water entry.  

To prevent the molds from coming back, you need to conduct a home inspection to see where the moisture is coming from. It could be that the moisture came from leaky pipes or leaks in your windows or roof caused by rainwater.  

2. Musty Odor In The House 

Sometimes, molds or mildews can’t be seen immediately. One of the tell signs that you have molds in your home is when you smell musty odors. If you walk inside the house and immediately feel like you’re in a damp basement, there may be molds lurking around corners where you can’t see them immediately. 

The musty odors are naturally produced by the microbial volatile organic compound. The musty scent may smell like wet paper or cardboard.  

3. Damage And Paint Discoloration On Ceiling Or Walls 

One of the first signs of water damage is usually an uneven ceiling or walls. More often than not, your roof suffers more severe damage when it experiences high levels of humidity. Also, walls will usually absorb excess moisture, which can be the cause of cracks. This means that there will be gaps in ceilings, which is the perfect location for a leak to start. If you notice any uneven ceiling areas in your home, then it’s time for repair. 

If you find any signs of damage on your exterior walls, there’s a chance that you have mildew. The most common symptom of mold is a discoloration of walls that’s caused by moisture. When this happens, you’ll start to notice some dark spots on the wall. They’ll eventually begin to peel and dry up, revealing a new, fresh wall surface layer. 

You can also watch for signs of mildew in the surrounding rooms of your home because discoloration in these areas can spread when dampness spreads to other rooms. 

4. Crack On Wood Flooring 

Wood floors are excellent choices for people who want to minimize signs of moisture. However, the problem arises when too much water is allowed to penetrate the wood flooring. When this happens, the wood starts to dry out, which can eventually lead to cracking. 

The cracking could then spread to the adjoining floors or even to the subfloors beneath the cracked wood flooring. Without immediate action, the damage caused by the water will eventually destroy the entire flooring. 

5. Damage On Your Budget Due To Increase In Water Bill 

Water damage isn’t only due to flooding or water coming inside your home. Leaking pipes can cause water damage. 

Leaking pipes means your water meter is still running even though your household isn’t using any water. This is why if you see an increase in your water bill and you know that you didn’t increase your water consumption for this month, there’s a leak in your system. This will also cause damage to your utility budget.  

Summary 

It’s essential to take these signs seriously as the effects of water damage, like molds and mildew, can negatively impact your health. Aside from that, water can also damage your ceiling and walls. It would be best if you didn’t wait for the water to damage your foundation as well.  

If you’ve noticed some signs that your home may have water damage, it’s essential to get it fixed as soon as possible. While a homeowner can repair minor damage, significant damage may require a professional water damage restoration company's service. The repair cost may vary depending on the scope of the damage and where it’s located.