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  • Writer's picturePerceptive Things Team

What Does Water Damage Look Like?

Updated: Aug 17, 2022




Water damage can be a serious problem in any home or business. Most water damage is serious and leads to costly repairs that often take months to complete.


That is why most people are surprised to learn that there are easy steps you can take to prevent and reduce water damage in your building!


In this blog post, we will provide a comprehensive guide to water damage. We will discuss the different types of water damage, the signs of water damage, and the steps that should be taken to address water damage.


What is water damage?


Water damage is the term used to describe any damage caused by water. This can include damage from a burst pipe, a flood, or rainwater. Water damage can cause extensive damage to your home and lead to costly repairs.


If the walls or ceiling of your building has water stains, mold, or peeling paint, then you may already have some water damage occurring as the result of a leak. More obvious signs of water damage are ceilings caving in, electronic issues, and structural failures.


It is important to address all types of water damage immediately as it is an issue that often becomes worse if left untreated. Water damage related issues costs building owners thousands of dollars each year, but are often easily prevented by installing a water leak sensor.


What are the different types of water damage?


There are three main types of water damage: clean water, grey water, and black water.


Clean water is the most common type of water damage. It includes all the categories of water that are safe for human contact, such as tap water and dishwasher runoff.


Grey water is less common than liquid water but still poses a serious threat to your home. It includes all the categories of water that are not safe for human contact, such as stormwater or toilet water.


Blackwater is the most dangerous type of water damage. It includes all the categories of water that are unsafe for human contact, such as sewage and chemical spills.



What are the signs of water damage?


The signs of water damage can vary depending on the type of water damage. Another aspect that can impact the signs of water damage you may experience are how long the water has been in contact with your building and the materials that the water came in contact with.


Common signs of water damage are:

  • Water stains on walls or ceilings

  • Mold growth

  • Peeling paint

  • Sagging ceilings or floors

  • Sticky surfaces

  • Structural Damage (collapsing roofs or balconies)

  • Unidentified musty odors

Most types of water damage can be detected early by installing a leak detector system. This is especially important as many types of water damage can go unnoticed for months or even years!


How should you address water damage?


If you suspect that your home has been affected by water damage, you should take immediate action.


The first step is to contact a professional restoration company. They will assess the situation and provide recommendations on how to address the damage. There are even water restoration companies that can respond to you in an emergency situation, which can help you salvage as much of your items and property as possible.


Most forms of water damage are best addressed by a professional because they can often lead to long-term issues by damaging the foundation.


How to prevent water damage in your home


There are a few things that you can do to prevent water damage in your apartment complex.


Of course, the best thing you can do is preventing water damage from occurring in the first place! Additionally, it is a good idea to keep a plan of action in place in case a leak occurs.


Here are 5 ways you can prevent water damage:

  1. Install a leak sensor system

  2. Regularly maintain your plumbing system

  3. Be aware of weather conditions

  4. Keep a list of local water restoration companies

  5. Have supplies on hand

While these preventative measures do not guarantee that you will not experience water damage, they will help you minimize the time it takes to detect and fix the issue.


Most buildings will experience some sort of leak or storm related water damage at some point. That is why it is so important to have a variety of tools and an action plan in place before disaster strikes.


Install a Leak Sensor System


Leak sensors are often the best first line of prevention for an apartment or commercial building. They can help you detect a wide variety of leaks in hard to reach places.


Unfortunately, most building managers and owners fail to be proactive when it comes to installing preventative technologies. This oversight can cost them thousands of dollars as water damage often leads to structural damage if not addressed properly.


leak sensor
Droplet Duo™ Leak Sensor by Perceptive Things®

At Perceptive Thing, we partner with you to help create a customized solution that protects your building from ceiling to floor.


Leaning on both experience and technology, we turn your buildings into a ‘smart building’ so you can take action before disaster strikes.


We’ve seen what happens when a bathtub or dishwasher accidentally floods a building and are here to help you avoid these costly repairs!


With solutions for both multi-family homes and commercial spaces, we are able to protect every size of building with a customized detection system.




Regularly maintain your plumbing system


One of the other key things you can do to protect your building or home from water damage is ensuring that you keep up with routine maintenance.


Most building owners forget to regularly schedule maintenance, which results in many buildings going unchecked for several years. By the time a toilet or sink issue is detected, it is often once the damage has already been done.


Having a professional check your plumbing system regularly can be a great way of staying ahead of potential issues. This is particularly true if you live in a multi-family building or a home that was built a few years ago.


Be Aware of Weather Conditions


It may sound simple, but being aware of changing weather conditions can go a long way towards protecting your home from water damage. Sudden rains, floods, and other weather conditions can easily infiltrate your home.


By being aware of how weather changes could impact your home you will be able to prepare in advance for potential water issues. This is particularly important if your areas is facing unusually warm or cold weather!


A great example of this would be the Texas winter storm of 2021. Many unprepared homeowners had the waters in their pipes freeze, which caused thousands of dollars in damages as well as leaving many without water for days.


Keep a list of local water restoration companies


There are main water restoration companies that offer emergency and off hours services.

When a water disaster strikes, you do not want to waste your time researching reputable companies! That is why we have put together a list of best water restoration companies in Houston that can support you.


Have supplies on hand


While it is impossible to have all of the supplies you might need prepared before a leak occurs, there are some basic things you can keep around that will give you time to take action.


Some excellent supplies to help you prevent water damage include:

  • Buckets

  • Towels (or even blankets in extreme circumstances!)

  • Plastic Tarps

  • Trash Bags

  • Glove

Not only are these great to have on hand for slowing the spread of water, but they can also help you begin to clean up the mess. This can be handy as many items will need to be quickly removed from the area to prevent further damage and to make way for professional crews to address the issue.


Final thoughts on water damage


Though the idea of water damage can be daunting for most building managers and owners, this issue can be easy to address. If you follow these tips, you can help reduce the risk of most types of water damage and save yourself thousands of dollars in the process.


We hope you found this post useful and would be happy to answer any additional questions in the comments section below.


Tell us, have you dealt with water damage before? How did you stop the water damage from getting worse?





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