Water damage and mold problems: signs, causes and fixes
Water damage rarely announces itself all at once. Sometimes it is a drip through a light fixture; more often it is a faint stain, a smell in one closet or a floorboard that will not lie flat. Pick what you are noticing to see what usually causes it and what fixes it.
Ceiling leak or water stain Drips, stains or a sagging bulge overhead. Wet carpet Soaked carpet and pad: save, dry or replace. Leaking water heater Tank failures in closets, garages and attics. Toilet overflow Clean tank water or sewage: treat it right. Washer, dishwasher or fridge leak Washer hoses, dishwasher seals and ice maker lines. AC leaking water Clogged drains and overflowing pans. Musty smell in the house A damp, earthy smell with no visible cause. Mold on walls Spots or patches on drywall and paint. Mold on the ceiling Spots, rings or patches overhead. Bubbling paint or soft drywall Blisters, peeling and soft spots in walls. Warped or buckled floors Cupping, crowning and buckling after water. High humidity in the house Condensation, clamminess and mold in closets.
Nearly all of these come back to the same thing: water where it should not be, for longer than a day or two. The water damage and mold guide explains how a leak turns into mold and what stops it.
Seeing more than one of these?
That is common, because one hidden leak causes several of them. Call and describe the house, and an inspection traces them back to the source.