Q: Does water damage happen immediately? A: No, it takes 1 hour to a full day before water begins to damage your home's infrastructure. You'll notice signs like bulging, cracking, and swelling in furniture or drywall that has been affected.
Within the first 24 hours of a leak or flood, mold development, damage to floors, walls, and electrics, and even structural issues can occur. This is why it's always best to quickly hire a water cleanup pro near you for a consultation and repair.
But as you're about to find out, water doesn't always cause damage immediately after a leak develops. For instance, it takes up to 10 days for wood to start rotting due to water exposure. The timing is different for other forms of damage, which is what we'll cover in this article.
Water damages electrical components instantly, and the damage is often irreparable.
Any water leak carries the risk of mold growth, but that doesn't necessarily mean that mold growth is certain. The chance of mold depends on many factors, such as the severity of water damage, how quickly it was cleaned up and dried, and the extent of surfaces affected.
Discoloration: One of the most obvious signs of water damage in walls is discoloration. If you notice any yellow, brown, or dark stains on your walls or ceiling, it could be a sign of water damage. Peeling or bubbling paint or wallpaper: Water damage can cause paint or wallpaper to bubble, peel, or become discolored.
Even once the water stops flowing in, there will still be more to do than just remove it. The answer to, “Can water damage fix itself?” is no, unfortunately. If you don't take action in the moment to minimize the damage, it can last longer and get worse.
Depending on the severity of water ingress, it can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to dry a wet property out. In this article, we discuss what contractors should bear in mind when estimating project times and what can be done to speed up the drying process.
Additionally, if left untreated, water damage on walls can cause the surface to crack, peel or buckle. This can create both cosmetic and structural issues. Water damage can also give host to mold and mildew. That's why repairing water-damaged drywall in a timely manner is best.
Early warning signs of water damage are peeling or bubbling paint or wallpaper. Over time, they will become bloated or warp. In severe cases, walls and ceilings may feel spongy to the touch. Wet flooring can go unnoticed too, especially if it's only wet in the corners or in rooms that are used infrequently.
Water damage can spread the longer it sits unattended. Even an initially small bit of damage can grow worse and larger, becoming much more severe.
Once a leak or pipe burst has begun, your belongings may be exposed to irreparable damage and you could be at risk for environmental hazards like mold. When you find out which issue caused the water damage on your property, make sure to take photos so that the progression of the damage can be monitored.
Does Water Damage Always Cause Mold? If the home is not completely dry within approximately 24 hours, mold will begin to grow. It doesn't matter if it's summer or winter, you'll begin to get mold. It's almost a guarantee that you will get mold in some capacity unless your water damage is extremely minimal.
Your drywall can be checked for moisture in a couple of ways. The first thing you can do is use a non-penetrating moisture meter. You can also pry off the baseboards and poke holes in the drywall with a screwdriver. If it's soft and the screwdriver goes in easily, then the drywall is wet.
Water damage mold appears fuzzy and nearly transparent when still new. Once fully developed, however, they form unmistakable dark spots on the affected surfaces. They often appear grayish-black. However, other types of mold can also be orange, purple, yellow, and green in color.
Musty Smell
If you think there's mold in your walls, get on your hands and knees and smell the electrical outlets. This might sound silly, but it may help you sense mold if it's growing within walls. Outlets have better access to the area behind the walls. Thus, smelling them can help identify the mold problem.
Black mold begins to form and multiply within 12–24 hours when the conditions are right. If you've experienced water damage, be sure to take action immediately to dry and dehumidify the area to prevent spores from taking hold.
Some people are sensitive to molds. For these people, exposure to molds can lead to symptoms such as stuffy nose, wheezing, and red or itchy eyes, or skin. Some people, such as those with allergies to molds or with asthma, may have more intense reactions.
After water damage, running fans for at least 24 hours is recommended. The duration could change depending on the water damage and humidity extent. It's critical to monitor the humidity levels and keep the fans running until they stabilize.
Mold is one concern to think of straight away. If the drywall has been wet for more than 48 hours, mold may have already begun to grow. Unfortunately, if that is the case, while you will be able to dry things out, the drying process does not kill the mold spores.
Water Damage
A big question homeowners often ask is “does wet drywall always need to be replaced?” and the answer is almost always yes.