Preventing Water Damage In The Home

Homeowners who live in flood prone areas often dread heavy rains because of the potential for flooding. They know how devastating water damage can be to a home and how stressful and expensive it is to deal with. Yet, for someone who has never had to deal with the aftermath of water damage, they have no idea the troubles that await them when they do. Before they experience such a thing, it is in their best interest to learn what they would need to do but best yet, learn how they can avoid it entirely.

Two main causes for water damage to occur in a home are leaking faucets and pipes. To keep this from occurring, be sure you look at your pipes and faucets and fix them when you find problems.

You’ll need to be on the lookout for hidden leaks from pipes you generally do not see such as pipes in walls and floors. To find these leaks, you’ll need to watch out for signs of water damage. You can do this by looking for water patches or puddles on the floor, ceiling or walls. Once you have signs of damage, contact a licensed plumber to take care of the problem.

Water damage usually occurs because water-using appliances tend to fail and leak. If you want to avoid this problem, you must do a regular inspection on each appliance.

A way to find leaking water is to look for blocked drain pipes under your sinks. Be sure there are no discolorations or soft spots near the bathtubs and showers. Be sure there is no damage or leaks to your washer machine and dishwasher hoses.

Anytime it’s going to rain or the winter season is about to begin, you should check your home’s roof. After all, it’s constantly exposed to the elements and is a great cause of water damage to a home. Look for shingles that are missing or have been broken. Leaves that are building up should be removed. Chimneys and vents need to have their flashings looked at. If you see water stains, check out the roof further.

Besides using preventive maintenance and doing inspections, you can purchase a leak detection or water alarm system to assist you with possible problems. These devices are very useful in areas that have lots of water-using appliances like the bathroom, kitchen and laundry room. You can also purchase the systems for certain appliances in your home. If you detect a leak, shut off the supply of water going to the appliance.

Keep in mind that these are the only ways to prevent water damage but it is a start. Make sure to do a regular inspection on your home to keep water damage at bay. Have a licensed, qualified plumber to do a thorough inspection of your pipes once a year and look closely at your appliances to check for problems. When you do this, you’ll save yourself money and stress.

Another Published Article From Chuck Pennington Publications. Leading Purveyors Of Enviormental Publications

by Keith Heidleman -

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