10 Tips to Prevent Water Damage in Your Home
Protect yourself against costly water losses and homeowner’s insurance claims. Follow these 10 easy tips to keep your home safe and well-maintained:
Check the Outside of Your Home
1. Disconnect hoses: Standing water in a hose may freeze back into the pipe and create an ice block that, in a best-case scenario, stops your water flow. In the worst cases, it may cause pipes to burst and create damage to walls, floor and the foundation.
2. Clean gutters and downspouts: Clean your gutters at least twice a year to avoid blockage and ice dams. Standing water can cause damage to your gutters and roof, and unmanaged overflow may create puddles that could damage your foundation. Don’t forget to clean downspouts to ensure water can flow through, and secure downspouts so that they point away from the home.
3. Maintain trees and vegetation: Thriving shrubs can be a beautiful thing — except when their roots wrap around your pipes and break them. That’s why it’s important to minimize landscaping near utility pipes or, if necessary, remove trees and shrubs that have become too big.
Interior Measures to Prevent Water Damage
4. Know your water main: Know the location of your water main, and shut it off if you leave for an extended amount of time. If no water goes into the house you reduce the chance for faucet drips to wreak havoc on your home while you’re away.
5. Check appliances regularly: Check and maintain your home appliances regularly for leaks according to manufacturer’s directions.
6. Investigate leaks right away and fix promptly: If you ignore water damage or postpone making the necessary repairs, you significantly increase the likelihood for mold, mildew, dry rot, or even structural damage to your home. Keep in mind that homeowner’s insurance provides coverage for damage that is sudden and accidental. Damage that results from lack of maintenance is not covered on a standard homeowner’s insurance policy.
7. Upgrade washing machine hoses: Old, brittle or leaky washing machine hoses are among the most frequent causes of water loss for homeowners. Replace yours regularly to avoid a large mess and expensive damage.
8. Install water detection devices: A water detector is a small electronic device that sounds an alarm when its sensor comes in contact with moisture. Its main benefit is that it detects low moisture levels or slow leaks that often go unnoticed. Install it near water heaters, sump pumps, washing machines, dishwashers and toilets to prevent extensive damage and mold growth.
9. Check your water pressure: If the water pressure to your home is set too high, pipes and hoses may fail under the pressure. Buy a water pressure gauge at a local hardware store, attach it to an outside faucet, and turn the faucet to full force. The gauge will give you a reading of the home’s water pressure. Typical residential water systems are designed for water pressure of 40 to 70 psi. If your home’s water pressure exceeds 100 psi, install a pressure regulator (available at most hardware stores).
10. Monitor your water bill: Sometimes, the only way you know that water is leaking is to simply take a closer look at your water bill. If your usage jumps significantly from one month to the next then that’s an immediate red flag. Is there a leak in your crawlspace? Perhaps a broken pipe in your front yard? Don’t leave mystery leaks unattended!
Of course water damage may occur, even when precautions are taken. Should you experience water damage, call Burke Emergency Restoration for prompt, thorough and professional service.
Family owned and operated, Burke Emergency Restoration provides 24 hour service 7 days a week. We have built a reputation as one of the most competent, ethical and compassionate service provider’s in the restoration industry.
Whether it’s water damage, fire & smoke, mold, odor removal or bio-hazard cleanup you can rely on the professionals at Burke Emergency Restoration. We bring damaged properties back to life.™
Burke Emergency Restoration services Belknap, Merrimack, Strafford, Hillsborough and Rockingham Counties in New Hampshire, Essex and Middlesex Counties in Massachusetts, and York County in Maine.
For Emergency Services 24/7, call toll free 855-716-2875