Sometimes it’s obvious when a home or property has been damaged by water.  Perhaps there was a disastrous rainfall or a burst water line that flooded the house.  With these sorts of events, it’s easy to call in water damage restoration companies near Chicago to take care of the damage and restore your property.

However, not all water damage is so obvious or easy to identify.  There are many ways that a dripping drain might go unnoticed, or for a pipe behind the walls to crack and start leaking.  You should know the “hidden” signs that indicate water damage is happening, even when it’s subtle or out of sight.

These are some of the biggest red flags.

Four Subtle Signs You Need to Call A Water Damage Restoration Company Near You

  1. Mold growth

Mold requires dark areas with a lot of moisture to grow, and it can often be a big indicator that there’s a leak somewhere nearby.  This isn’t always the case, but the presence of mold within a building or home is a bad sign either way.  If you see mold, don’t just clean it up – investigate how it had access to enough water to grow.

  1. Unexpectedly higher water bills

If your water bill is relatively steady from month to month, then suddenly goes way up without any clear reason, there’s a very good chance that there’s a leak somewhere.  The higher the increase in the bill, the more likely it becomes.  This would definitely be a good time to have your property and plumbing checked out.

  1. Water stains on walls

Does a wall suddenly have a water stain dripping down, or perhaps a soft discolored spot?  That water had to come from somewhere – and it’s very often a hidden leak within the walls.  If you can’t find the source on your own, seek professional help.  An undiscovered leak will just do more and more damage over time.

The same is true if you suddenly discover a soft or squishy area on your carpet.

  1. Warping floorboards

If a water leak has made it to floorboards or tiling, it will quickly cause them to warp and curl.  There are other potential causes of warping floorboards, especially if they alternate between sunlight and darkness frequently, but water leaks are often the cause.

Genesis Construction

If hidden water leaks have damaged your property, Genesis Construction can help!  Contact us for excellent water damage restoration in Chicago!