Although you can't prevent natural disasters from coming your way, the best tip for handling water damage in your home is to prevent it before it ever starts. Here are our top tips for you to protect your home from leaks.
1. Inspect Your Washing Machine Regularly
Your washer hoses are designed to handle large water loads frequently, but over time they can wear out. Inspect the hoses regularly and look for surface cracking as well as leaks where the hoses connect to your water supply.
2. Inspect Your Toilet Regularly
Two to three times a year, inspect your toilet to make sure it's not leaking and that it's functioning properly. Make sure that you only put waste like toilet paper down your toilet to prevent potential issues or backups.
3. Keep Your Gutters and Downspouts Clear
Water running off your roof and down your spouts could potentially cause damage to your home and foundation if it isn't draining away properly. Make sure to clean your gutters and downspouts of debris regularly as a part of seasonal home maintenance and that they are draining water away from your home.
4. Check Your Basement or Crawl Space Regularly
Check under your home for standing water or excess moisture by removing a piece of the skirting and looking underneath your home. Signs of too much moisture or leaks include standing water or mildew under your home.
Excess moisture could result from plumbing leaks, inadequate ventilation under your home or other causes. It could mean you need to repair a tear in your bottom board, also called the underbelly.
Too much moisture could cause foul smells, warping in your flooring, shifting in your flooring or even damage to the insulation under your home if there is a tear in your bottom board. It can be dangerous to crawl underneath your home without a helper to wait outside and make sure you exit safely. A professional should be consulted before making major repairs to the wrap.
5. Get Your Roof Checked Regularly
Making sure that your roofing, whether you have metal roofing material or asphalt shingles, remains in good shape is a key way to prevent potential water damage.
Have a roofing professional inspect your home twice a year or after major storms to verify the condition of your roof and perform any necessary maintenance on your roofing system.
Climbing on your roof can be dangerous and is a job best left to professional roofers.
We hope that these water damage prevention tips help you keep your home in great shape. We want to help you preserve your home so you can enjoy it for years to come. When life's unexpected events do occur, call your homeowners insurance agent for help.