Handling water damage can be extremely overwhelming if you are not prepared. Not only is fixing the damaged property a challenging task on its own but recognizing the issue in the first place and knowing when to hire local water damage restoration services requires a certain amount of knowledge and experience as well.
If your home in San Diego has suffered a plumbing emergency and your walls and wood floors got damaged, you need to think on your feet and act immediately. Under the right conditions, mold can start growing in less than 48 hours, so the sooner you start drying out the property, the less severe the consequences will be.
Let’s learn how to recognize water damage, how long it takes to show, where to check for it, and be ready to handle it like a pro:

How long does it take for water damage to show?
How soon the water damage will show depends on a variety of factors:
- The type of plumbing emergency
- The amount of water
- Whether the source of the damage is hidden, etc.
In general, the first sign of water damage is the presence of standing or pooling water anywhere in your property. If the water has reached your wood floor and furniture, you’ll notice the change in their texture quickly. Due to the increased levels of humidity, the wood will start to warp and buckle. Also, wet and discolored areas on your ceiling might appear, which will probably mean that you have a leaky roof or a burst pipe in your attic.
While these are the first signs of water damage in your home, in less than two days, mold can start growing as well. It won’t be immediately visible, but if not handled timely, it will spread, producing an unpleasant musty smell.
How do you check for water damage?
When checking your property for water damage, these are some of the most commons indicators of its presence:
- Water stains on your walls, ceilings, and floors
- Bubbly and swollen drywall
- A strong, musty odor
- The sound of running water when the plumbing is not in use
- Peeling, cracking paint
- Visible mold growth
- Cracks on your walls and ceiling
- Loose caulk around the pipes
- Soft spots on the roof and missing tiles
- Fogging windows, etc.
All of these signs may indicate excess moisture and increased humidity levels in your property that often occur as a consequence of different types of plumbing emergencies. Having in mind that water damage can often stay hidden for a long time, instead of relying only on the above-mentioned signs, you should contact your water damage repair professional to inspect your property with the use of advanced diagnostic tools.
Your seasoned team of experts will know where to check for water damage and how to recognize it even when it’s not that obvious. Discovering the issue before it gets out of hand will save you a lot of time and money, as well as the complication of dealing with a mold-infested property. Contact your trusted professionals and make sure that your property is in safe hands.

Looking for top-rated water damage restoration services in San Diego & the area?
Risk Free Serv is here to help you with all kinds of water and mold damage emergencies. Our skilled and trained professionals are well-versed in a wide variety of water damage restoration tasks, and they will do their best to come up with a personalized solution for your home, meeting your unique needs and requirements along the way.
We understand the importance of prompt action and will do everything in our power to arrive at your address in the shortest possible team. Our team will come fully equipped and will render our services according to the highest safety standards. Whether your residence is located in San Diego Downtown or any of the surrounding neighborhoods in the area, Risk Free Serv is at your disposal. Reach out to us or visit our website for more information.