Water damage in your home can be an alarming experience especially when you are unsure what steps need to be taken to eliminate the problem. Flooding, drain back-up, leaky appliances, pipe leaks, and mold growth can happen when you least expect it. These situations can disrupt your life and water damage in your home is the last thing you need to be dealing with. Following these steps can help prevent water damage and those awful headaches.
Flooding
Instead of going kayaking down your hallway, why not learn about hazardous areas in your home that can create floods. Any type of water damage is bad, but you’ll know you have a flood on your hands when the water reaches floor level and increases an inch above. This is when the situation gets costly and immediate response is crucial. Flooding and water damage are one of the top most expensive and filed home insurance claims in the United States. Insurance agency research reveals that 98% of basements in the United States will experience some type of water damage in its lifetime. Living in areas with high flood rates, having deficient local drainage, a poor foundation, and a basement, can all contribute to potential flooding. A great way to eliminate potential damage, is investing in a water powered or battery backup sump pump for your basement. Sump pumps will help defend you by pumping water out of your home. Another excellent prevention source is to have sewer or septic line valves installed which direct sewer waste in one direction. Installing good drainage in your home can help save hundreds of dollars and prevent water damage in the future.
Leaks
Leaks can be sneaky and people normally never know when it’s happening. Leaks can happen in a variety of areas in your home. Piping in the walls and ceiling, underneath sinks, appliances, HVAC, condensation lines, water heaters, toilets, bathtubs, and showers, are examples of places that can have leaks. Many people experience water damage and wipe it up with a towel and move on with their day. The biggest mistake is thinking that it is a harmless issue. Being observant and noticing signs of water damage can help eliminate any further damage, especially when it comes to leaks. Soft walls with discoloration, bubbling of walls, soft flooring or discoloration near toilets, showers and bathtubs, dampness under sinks, erosion and rust on piping, are all signs of water damage. A great investment would be water leak detectors. They work like regular smoke alarms and when they detect water, it alarms you immediately.
Water Heaters
Fun fact! (Well, not so fun): Water heaters tend to leak water or burst at about 5-8 years old. The majority of water heaters also normally never live past 12 years old. This being said, it is very important to have your water heater checked on annually or at least every two years. The anode rod eventually starts corroding and that’s when it is crucial to replace. Also, inspect all valves and hoses frequently for any erosion, kinks, or blistering. If you ever hear your water heater making a “banging” or “tapping” sound, it’s normally because calcium sediment builds up which means it’s time to flush everything out.
Drains
Most people have heard, “don’t pour grease down your kitchen drain”, which is completely true. Water damage from sinks averaged a cost of $7,000 per incident. Chemicals used for cleaning and unclogging, should also not be poured down any drains because it causes erosion and depletes the lifespan of piping and hoses. The best way to clean out drains and clogging is to invest in a drain snake. They are relatively inexpensive and they are super helpful with unclogging bad drains. Also, sending some ice down the drain is a good way to clean out built up grease.
Roofing
Roof leaks are more frequent than most expect. Especially in areas of freezing temperatures, high winds, and snowfall. If there are any missing shingles, looks like there has been deterioration on the roof, or pooling of water, it could be a sign of water damage. Repairs should be made in these situations and if it is time to replace your roof, a rubber roof underlayment is a great way to protect your home from water.
14,000 people in the United States experience some type of water damage emergency at home or at work each day. Instead of letting water damage disrupt your life and cost you hundreds of dollars in repairs, follow these steps to prevent water damage. Hiring a professional for these repairs is not a bad idea because they specialize in these issues every day and know how to handle them properly. In the unfortunate event that you do experience water damage, call Connected Restoration and we will be at your door within an hour! We are trained professionals in water and storm restoration and mold remediation.
