A small amount of water can cause considerable damage to your home. When water finds its way into your home, through the roof, basement or other area, the result is water damage and mold growth. Most of the time, these problems require professional water damage restoration services. However, you can prevent water damage in your home by following a number of rules:
- Clean and maintain gutters and downspouts. If there are leaves, sticks, debris or bird’s nests in your gutters, water may overflow onto the side of your house. In your gutter cleaning routine, check for cracks or sagging, and have them repaired.
- Make sure downspouts extend at least 10 feet away from the foundation of your house. The ground around the foundation should also be sloped at least 6 inches over a 10-foot span away from the house, to avoid basement flooding.
- Have your roof annually checked for cracked or missing shingles, deteriorated flashing, pooling water or missing granules. To prevent ice dams in freezing weather, insulate your attic to prevent it from heating up.
- Install a sump pump with a battery backup system. Maintain and test the sump pump according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and remove any debris that may be blocking the water inlet screen. Batteries should usually be replaced every 2 to 3 years.
- Install backflow valves and standpipes at all basement drain locations, sinks and toilets. These mechanisms automatically prevent sewage from backing up into your home.
- Don’t pour grease down the sink, as it can cling to pipes and cause blockage, even if you rinse the drain with hot water afterwards. The best way to get rid of grease is to pour it into an empty jar, refrigerate it, then discard it into the trash.
- Routinely check your home for leaks in areas such as ceilings, under pipes inside sink cabinets, or around sinks and toilets. Immediately fix water leaks to prevent serious water damage and mold growth.
- If your water bill is unusually high and you don’t know why, this may be a sign that some pipes are leaking in your home. In this case, hire a professional plumber to detect and repair damaged pipes.
- Inspect appliances that use water.
- Turn off the water supply valve when going on vacation.
- Ensure you can turn on/off the supply valves when needed.
- Do not operate appliances when going to sleep or leaving the home.
- Inspect water supply hoses of the washing machine, dishwasher, etc. twice a year. Check and repair damaged hoses.
- Leave a gap of 3 to 4 inches between the washing machine or refrigerator and the wall.
There are many ways your home can suffer water damage and require water remediation and mold removal services. Paying attention to leaks and maintaining your roof, gutters, basement and plumbing system are essential to preventing property water damage. For professional fire, water and mold restoration services, contact your local PuroClean office.
