If your home is experiencing water damage, it is important to have the problem addressed right away, as it could lead to a myriad of complications. These complications vary from compromising the structural integrity of your home to posing a serious health risk to your family members in the form of respiratory ailments due to mold and fungi. Here are some of the ways to detect potential moisture problems in your household.

Discoloration on walls and ceilings

The first sign of water damage to look out for would be staining on your walls as well as your ceiling. When there is excessive moisture trapped in these surfaces, they begin to turn shades of gray, black or brown. The heavier the water damage, the deeper the discoloration. If you find these spots around your home, it would be best to investigate whether there is a leak.

Fuzzy walls and ceilings

When water damage goes unchecked, it becomes a prime breeding ground for mold and mildew. The first sign that the spores are thriving in your home is a fuzzy texture on the affected areas. As moisture infiltrates your walls and ceilings, the mold will develop and start producing spores that resemble a white fuzzy substance such as cotton. Over time, the fuzz will spread and become thicker in its consistency. If it has reached this point, it would be best to call in water damage contractors, as they would be best suited to dealing with the problem from the source.

Pungent odors

When water begins accumulating in your walls and ceilings, it has nowhere to go. Stagnant water will start developing an odor, and it is difficult to miss. The smell will vary depending on whether the water is making other materials in your home rot, such as the woodwork, your ceiling tiles, the drywall and more. Rooms that smell musty will most likely be suffering from water damage, even if you cannot spot the discoloration or fuzzy surfaces.

Crumbling of your walls' surfaces

As the water penetrates the walls, you'll notice the walls flaking and crumbling. If you have wallpaper, it will start peeling off as it steadily loses its ability to stay adhered to the walls. If you notice that your paint has begun blistering or the walls start crumbling, chances are you are dealing with extensive water damage in the walls. You could also examine the wood at your doorways and windows. If the water damage is extensive, these will exhibit signs of crumbling too.

For more information about water damage signs and remediation tips, talk with a water damage restoration company, like ServiceMaster by Restoration Xperts.