Minimize The Risk of Water Damage in the Home

Water damage in the home can be extremely costly. Property damage and repairs can easily run into the thousands of dollars. If you are proactive though, you can minimize the risk of water damage.

Don’t run your washing machine or dishwasher while you aren’t home.

It might be convenient to run appliances when you aren’t home, but you’re also taking a risk. If flooding occurs, there is more time for damage to take place if you aren’t around.

Consider installing water sensors where appliances or plumbing fixtures are located.

Kitchens, laundry rooms, and bathrooms are ideal places for a water sensor. Washing machines, dishwashers and even plumbing fixtures like toilets have the potential to create situations where water damage can arise. A sensor can send a notification of the leak through a smartphone app. Smart sensors are also able to do things like record water temperatures, help prevent freezing pipes and even notify you of mold growing in your pipes.

Preventative maintenance is important.

Clean out your dishwasher and washing machine as needed. Dishwashers can get clogged with food and grease. Washing machines can get clogged with debris as well. It’s also smart to regularly check hose lines (and replace as needed) going to and from appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines, refrigerators and water heaters. Over time, chemicals and contaminants in the water can cause buildup that can damage the hose, causing it to crack or burst.

Pay attention to the weather.

Frozen pipes can cause water damage in the home. There are many things you can do during extreme winter weather to help stop your pipes from freezing. Keep the heat on when you are away, make sure your pipes are insulated and turn off exterior pipes before the first freeze of the winter. It’s also a good idea to leave your cabinet doors open for pipes located on exterior walls, to allow warm air in to circulate. Of course, if you keep cleaning supplies in those cabinets and have small children or pets, it’s best to find another spot to store those supplies before leaving the cabinet doors open. Lastly, if you have a faucet with exposed pipes, let both the hot and cold lines on the faucet drip during extreme temperatures. Running water doesn’t freeze, and it will help prevent possible ice blockages as well.

Clean your gutters.

Gutters filled with leaves and other debris traps water and snow, which then can freeze and lead to ice dams. The backup from the ice dam allows water to seep through cracks in your roof. Not only can it damage your roof, but it also can create damage to your walls and inside your house. It could even damage your foundation.

Pay attention to your water bills.

Look at the usage on your bills from month to month. If the bill shows a significant increase in usage that can’t explained, you may need to do some investigatiing to make sure you don’t have a leak that you just haven’t noticed yet.

Know where your shut off valve is.

Make sure everyone living in your home knows where the main shut off valve is. If a pipe bursts, or an appliance like your dishwasher breaks while running, the sooner you shut off the water, the less damage will be done.

Shut off your water if you aren’t going to be home for an extended period of time.

The last thing you want to do when returning from a trip is to find your house flooded. The risk of water damage in the home is less if you shut off your water before you leave. Then, even if catastrophe strikes, the damage will be less than what it could have been.