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How Do Home Inspectors Check for Water Damage?
Having your home inspected before a sale or remodel can help you identify issues that may keep you from gaining top dollar or slow construction. For example, water damage is a significant issue that home inspectors take seriously. It can also point to other problems within your home.
How do home inspectors check for water damage you may ask? They take a thorough look at your home for any indications of issues, including:
- External windows
- Siding
- External thresholds
- Floors
- Pipes
- Walls
Ready to ensure that you are well-informed about an important aspect of home buying? Continue reading!
Identifying Water Damage on The Outside
When doing an inspection, inspectors start outside your home to look for issues. Then, they circle the perimeter and check the exterior for damage, including water damage. Of particular importance is checking that your home was built on the highest point of your property. The remainder of your yard needs to slope away to prevent water pooling outside your home.
Wall and Sill Below Window
According to Bobvila.com, "windows are a prime spot for water leaks." When it rains or snows, the water can get under the sill and begin to damage the framing studs. They will eventually rot and cause repairs to the windows and walls around it. To the naked eye, however, a professional inspector will notice the problem and alert you.
The outside sill below the windows is a prominent place for water damage, especially in older homes. These areas are often painted over without any inspection of the wood. As the paint cracks, water is allowed against the wood, causing it to rot. With additional coats of paint, the rot may be hidden from view. If you notice cracks in the paint, check with a screwdriver to see how soft the wood is. If it is damaged, the tip will sink in easily.
Under Siding
If your home is covered with siding, then you may have unseen water damage underneath. A home inspector will check the corners where the pieces of siding meet. If there is a crack between them, water can get beneath and cause the wood to rot. A certified inspector should also check the seams around windows and doors.
Door Threshold
Not all external doors have metal thresholds. However, those that do can trap water underneath, damaging the door frame. Despite having treated wood, you may find a rotting threshold during an inspection. The damage may go unnoticed until the metal comes loose from the swelling.
Identifying Water Damage on The Inside
Inside your home, you’ll most likely notice when there is a leak. But, even if you clean up the water immediately, you might have some underlying damage. The certified inspector will check the floors, pipes, walls, and ceilings during the inspection, looking for signs of any potential problems.
Floors
When you think of water damage and flooring, the first thing you might think of is hardwood floors. It’s a well-known fact that water and hardwood don’t mix. The moisture can cause the planks to swell. However, water damage can affect more types of flooring than just hardwood.
Damp carpets, left undried, can start to grow mold. The pad can mold without you being able to see it, and the subflooring may also become damaged. Wood floors don’t have to warp or buckle to show signs of sustained water damage. However, wood may begin to show dark or white stains.
Pipes
While the weather might contribute to external water damage, the most probable culprit is a leaky pipe. Therefore, home inspectors will look to see if there are any leaky pipes around your home. They'll look underneath sinks in bathrooms, the kitchen, and around washers.
One main indicator of potential damage is water stains on the cabinets and walls around where the pipes are. If there is any staining, that could be an indicator of a leak. They also look at the caulking around your home to ensure that it is in decent shape. Missing or damaged caulking can cause water to leak and damage your home. Additionally, offputting smells, and even just dampness indicate water damage.
Walls and Ceilings
According to Doityourself.com, the most obvious place for signs of water damage is on your walls and ceilings. If the paint is cracking or there are visible stains, the inspector will note that there has been a leak. If left unchecked, mold can grow, causing dangerous health issues.
While you might automatically think that it is caused by a pipe leak coming from behind the wall, there are other reasons for the leak. For example, a backed-up condensation line from your air conditioning or an ill-fitting window could be the source. Your inspector will be able to tell you where the leak is coming from so you can correct the problem.
Conclusion
Water damage is a problem that can affect your home’s value. A home inspector can help you discover what areas have been damaged so that they can be fixed. A thorough inspection of the outside of your home will also help to spot any additional problems or drainage issues that could have contributed to the water damage. In the interior, a look at floors, plumbing, and walls can identify trouble spots as well.