Finding the telltale brownish stains that indicate there's been a leak is never, ever a nice discovery. Scenarios race through your mind, from the stains indicating a terrible hidden leak to the minor possibility that the stain is old and leftover from when the last occupants lived in the home. One thing is for sure: If you find water damage somewhere, even if the damage isn't wet, you need to get to work. For one thing, you have to be sure there are no active leaks. You also need to see if the damaged items can be restored, even partially.

Make Sure It's Actually Old

Dry water damage stains don't necessarily mean the damage is old and from a leak that was fixed long ago. It could be that the leak only happens in rare circumstances, such as in heavy rain that causes runoff to head to a particular section of the roof and gutter that normally doesn't get that much runoff in light rain. Feel the stain (and wash your hands afterward). If it feels wet, you know you've got something new. If it feels dry, try to find signs of a leak or spill, or put a foil tray with paper towels in the spot and see if anything drips onto the paper towels.

Look for the True Extent of the Damage

Water damage in one area implies more water damage nearby. Look at surrounding walls and anything above; for example, if you see the water damage in a cabinet, look at the "ceiling" of that cabinet and see if there's damage there. That helps pinpoint the location of the water coming in and also alerts you to other areas that may need restoration.

Call a Restoration Company Immediately

Obviously, if the damage is damp, you need to call someone to find and fix the leak. If it's dry, and you're waiting to see what falls into that tray you set out, call a water damage restoration company in the meantime. Tell them what you've found and that you're trying to see if this is very old or from a leak that happens occasionally, but in the meantime, you'd like to know what can be done to restore the items that were damaged. Wood may have to be replaced, but if the damage extended to plastic or metal, those can be cleaned. Ask about mold remediation services as well, as hidden water damage left untouched for a long time can result in mold and mildew.

While it may take some investigation, you can eventually figure out what's going on and have the right companies come in for repairs and restoration. Don't leave old water damage alone; get it fixed and items restored as much as possible to make your home look great.

To learn more, reach out to a company that deals with water damage.