Is it water damage? Mold? What is going on?? HELP!!!

1/19/2022 (Permalink)

IR thermometer checking wall temps.

Winter can be a challenging time to try and determine what is causing problems within a building. We can have rain, snow or ice on the outside of the building and that might be getting moisture into the structure. Another issue can be very challenging to evaluate. Cold. 

When the outside temp gets very cold, any problems with insulation in the structure can start to show up. The inside temp may very well be 68 degrees or higher. However, if the insulation in the walls or ceiling is missing in spots, (which is more common than you might think) then the inside surface temperature of those walls may be colder than the surrounding air temp. Much colder. 

Having a very cold surface temp along with warm, moist air temps can cause condensation on those cold surfaces. (Think about taking a cold beverage out of your refrigerator) Having condensation on drywall can cause the surface to get wet or even possibly grow mold, if left wet for long periods of time.

Many restoration professionals have been left scratching their heads trying to find the source of a wet surface in there situations. 

An important tool in these situations is a laser thermometer. These tools can show surface temperatures which might be very different then the surrounding area. This may be the difference between solving a challenging problem and not.

Having experienced professionals available to help you solve your challenging problems is how SERVPRO of DeKalb sets ourselves apart from the rest!