Water damage is a very common and costly disaster. It is ranked as the second-most commonly reported home insurance claim. Resolving water damages costs billions of dollars yearly. There is this misconception that dealing with water damage is quite easy; however, that there’s a higher chance of you experiencing water damage than fire damage or even burglary. Irrespective of the size of the water leak, here are things to do to prevent water damage to your home.
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Regularly Inspect Faucets and Hoses
Professionals advise that you should regularly check any hose leading to your appliances, including your refrigerator, dishwasher, and washing machine, in search of water leaks or cracks. Experts also advise that you should replace all appliance hoses every five to seven years.
Regularly Inspect Your Irrigation System
Regularly inspect your sprinklers to ensure that you aren’t creating any water damage to the foundation or walls of your home. To safeguard against frozen pipes, switch off the outside faucets. You could also hire a water damage repair company to carry out regular inspections and even fix any water leak discovered.
Buy Water Alarms
Water alarms are similar to smoke alarms; when they detect water in a particular area, the alarm is set off, notifying you of any leaks. You can place these sensors in different sections of your home, including laundry rooms, bathrooms, kitchen, basement, and many more.
Reseal the Basement
Cracks or faults in the floor slabs or foundation often lead to water in the basement. If you discover water seeping in after a heavy downpour when there has never been a problem, then it means that your waterproof basement floors and walls have deteriorated. You can paint these deteriorated areas with a water sealant to stop the seepage.
Inspect Tubs and Showers
Ensure that the caulking surrounding the tubs and showers is waterproof. If you notice any breaks in the caulking during an inspection, change it. Caulking is quite cheap and works very well in preventing water from trickling on your floor.
Set Up Floor Pans
You can consider setting up floor pans under several appliances. While this won’t protect you from a major water leak, it will stop damages and any undetected leaks.
Buy a Water Flow Shut-Off System
A water flow shut-off system is installed on your water main and safeguards your whole house. It works by calculating the water that flows into your home. If it discovers that water is flowing continuously into your home, this system will automatically stop the water flow. This is an advanced system. Therefore, you should get a water damage restoration specialist to install it.
Set Up Gutter Guards
You can hire a professional to set up a gutter guard to prevent clogs and ensure water flows away from your home.
Whether it is a small insignificant leak or a major catastrophic leak, the damage water leaks can cause to your floor or walls can be devastating. With these tips, you can not only stop water leaks but also protect your entire home for years.
