If you’ve noticed new water damage in your North Carolina or South Carolina home, it is important to address the cause in a timely fashion so any necessary repairs can be completed. Sometimes, people who live in older homes, in particular, have older water stains or peeling paint that are the result of no-longer-existent problems — the cosmetic damage simply hasn’t been fixed yet for one reason or another.
This is why being on the lookout for new water damage is so crucial. If you do live in a house that has existing water spots from long-ago damage, you undoubtedly know where they are, so new damage — including staining, peeling, cracked walls, or bubbled paint — should be extremely obvious. Or, alternately, if your home does not have existing water damage, new issues are likely to stick out like a sore thumb, as they say.
What may not be so apparent, however, is what is causing the water damage to your Carolina residence. Here, we dive into four major causes of interior residential water damage. The odds are good that one of these problems is impacting the structural integrity of your home.
- Leaky water pipes – Depending on precisely how your house was plumbed, the majority of your water pipes probably run through either your attic or your basement. If the pipes are in the attic, specifically, water damage could occur if they begin to leak. In many cases, this is initially mistaken for a roof leak, when, in reality, there may be nothing wrong with your roof at all. A qualified HVAC company in your area of the Carolinas should be able to take a look and assess whether or not your pipes are dripping.
- Lack of ventilation in the house – Indoor ventilation is extremely important, particularly in humid regions like the Southeast. Until your home’s interior ventilation system stops functioning correctly, though, you might not even realize how critical it is. Lack of vents or insulation, however, can lead condensation to build-up, especially in attic areas. Then, it drips down into your home’s walls, leading to serious damage. The best way to combat this problem is, of course, to have a better ventilation system installed, perhaps including a whole-house dehumidifier.
- Clogged gutters – If your gutters haven’t been cleaned in awhile, it is highly likely that they are clogged with leaves and other debris. This can actually lead to water damage in your home. When water doesn’t have anywhere to go due to a gutter clog, it will eventually slosh over the edge, hitting your house. The longer this goes on, the more likely it is that damage will occur.
- Ice dams – If you live in a North Carolina or South Carolina region that gets snowfall — or even below freezing temperatures — ice dams can lead to water damage. Ice dams typically form along the edge of a roofline. Not only do these prevent melting snow and ice from draining properly, but they can cause water damage when they themselves melt, too.
The team at Hatch Homes is here to help if you believe your recent leak issues are the result of a roof or gutter problem. Our skilled crew would love to visit your home to perform an assessment and help you understand what we can do to assist you and get your home back in working order quickly and safely.