Simple Ways to Protect Costly Water Damage

Even though water is essential, it has the potential to damage your property. Water damage is a major cause of property loss, weakening the foundation of your home and the pillars that hold your property together.

Make no mistake, even just a little water can be damaging. Damp the walls causing the paint to peel off leaving the wall utterly weak and unsightly. It also dampens wood and invites rust and mildew as well as ants and termites. This usually results in serious structural problems.

Clogged leaves and leaking roofs are common culprits here. Without a proper mechanism in place, water will continue to flow in, flow for minutes, hours or even days before getting noticed. The best thing would be to hire a leak detection services company early to avoid further damages to your home.

The problem is, you will only notice the water leak when it’s visibly seen on your walls and ceilings. This only puts the house occupants in danger but often costs thousands of dollars to repair.

Besides the damp on walls and roofs, common sources of water damage in homes include:  

– Water heaters, washing machines or dishwashers – they let out water and cause severe damage when their hose connections or hoses cause an undetected leak.

–Freezing outdoor pipes – can cause basement flooding which destroys the foundation of affected homes.

-Worn out plumbing connections and hoses.

-Indoor sprinkler systems – that are shoddily installed are more likely to have water leaks.

While water damage can be severe and costly, it can always be prevented with simple proactive measures. Here are simple steps to avoid water damage and save you money.

Keep an eye out for water leaks and fix them

A water leak is the most common cause of water damage. But it’s not just from appliances, pipes or the sprinkler system that water can seep in, you should also be vigilant against rainwater.

Rainwater can also seep into the house from leaking roofs. If any of these goes on for a while, it can lead to structural rot, mould and mildew. Sometimes it can also attract termites and ants that like to chew soggy wood because of the softness.

Fortunately, water leak detection should be easily done if you are regularly checking for problems.

How do you go about checking for water leaks?

Inspect your roof at least once every year. Any loose, damaged or missing shingles and cracked fillings can let in water and should be repaired immediately.

Look out for any dark, wet spots under the pipes inside your sink cabinets. Other signs to look for include stains on ceilings, water drips and toilets that produce unusual sounds.

Ensure your gutters are constantly clean

Debris build-up in the gutters can stop water from flowing. As a result, water cascades on the side of the house, damaging its siding and ultimately the house’s foundation. So, always try to keep your gutters very clean.

Ensure your drainage system works properly

Good drainage is key to a properly working structure. Normally, poor drainage tends to weaken your foundation fast, as it may cause uneven settling, cracks and pathways through which water can enter your home.

 

Your yard should be accurately sloped to direct water away from your foundation.

Test your equipment regularly

Pay attention to your sump pump. Remove accumulated water in your water-collecting sump basin located in the home’s basement at least once a year.

Of course, you should check this when there are frequent storms. Here’s how to test your sump pump:

 

• Slowly add water to the sump pump pit to fill it up. A float similar to the one in your toilet should rise if the pump is working properly. This is what turns on the pump. Then watch to see if the water level recedes to confirm that the pump is working.
• Unplug the main pump then test your backup pump the same way.
• There should also be an outside pipe that would catch water coming from the sump pump. Examine the inside of this pipe for any debris or dirt that could clog the drain.

Call on the experts

These simple steps enable you to detect and solve problems promptly. To ensure that your house is safe from water damage, best to enlist a professional leak detector or drain inspector. We will take preventive measures and address any issue promptly as we are available for you 24/7.