PuroClean’s Tips for Preventing Water Damage in Your Home or Business

Hey there, homeowner or business owner! It’s great to meet you. I’m PuroClean – your ‘go to’ water damage restoration experts! I know how expensive, disruptive, and stressful it can be to deal with water damage, so I’d like to help you prevent it before it even becomes an issue for you.

Did you know that, on average, one in five homes and businesses will see some form of water damage in their lifetime? That’s a pretty daunting statistic. But don’t worry – preventing water damage is actually pretty straightforward once you know the basics. In this article I’m going to share my best tips for avoiding this costly problem. From regular maintenance on fixtures and pipes to acting immediately when you detect a leak, we’ll cover all the bases here at PuroClean!

Finding and Addressing Sources of Moisture

The essential first step in preventing water damage is to identify and address any sources of moisture before they become a problem. This means checking all access points and making sure that there are no leaking pipes, roofs, windows, or other points of entry.

For example, check around the edges of your home or business for any cracks or voids that could be allowing water in. Make sure to also inspect and clear gutters from debris that could clog them, and check for signs of roof leaks as well. If you’re able to identify any potential sources of moisture now and take preventive measures, you can save yourself a lot of time and trouble later on.

Additionally, it’s important to keep an eye out for water pooling anywhere on your property—especially in basements or crawl spaces. Investigate the cause immediately and take steps to resolve the issue quickly; it could be anything from clogged gutters to faulty sump pumps.

Monitor Your Indoor and Outdoor Temperature

It’s important to monitor both your indoor and outdoor temperature if you want to avoid water damage in your home or business. When temperatures drop outside, it increases the chance of frozen pipes, which can cause leakages, burst pipes, and floods when they thaw out again.

To prevent this from happening, set your thermostat at no lower than 55°F (12°C). This will keep the indoor temperature warm enough to prevent freezing pipes. Additionally, you should check that the insulation near any exposed pipes is sufficiently thick so that it will block out any of the colder air coming in through windows and external walls.

When temperatures are expected to be especially low, you can take extra precautions like running a trickle of water through faucets connected to outdoor hoses or opening up kitchen cabinets to let warm air reach pipes under sinks. By doing so, you can reduce the chance of having to deal with any water damage in the future.

Properly Ventilate Your Home or Business

You might not even think about it, but proper ventilation is a key part of preventing water damage. When hot and cold air can’t circulate properly throughout your home or business, you run the risk of steam condensing on surfaces—leading to mold growth and other types of water damage.

Here are some tips for making sure that your home or business is properly ventilated:

1. Clean or replace filters on your HVAC system regularly.
2. Control humidity with dehumidifiers when needed.
3. Open windows during the daytime (especially in the bathrooms, kitchen and laundry areas) to let in fresh air and let moisture escape.
4. Check closed-off areas like crawlspaces or attics for signs of moisture buildup and repair leaks as soon as possible.
5. Utilize exhaust fans to help push warm air out from places like bathrooms and kitchens when cooking or showering.
6. Regularly inspect vents, windows, and other areas where moisture might enter (like the roof) for signs of disrepair or damage that needs to be addressed quickly.

By taking steps such as these, you can keep humidity levels down in your home and make sure that it’s well-ventilated—keeping your belongings safe from any kind of water damage!

Keep Gutters and Drains Clean

Of course, you don’t have to wait for a storm to wreak havoc on your home. You can prevent water damage from seasonal storms by making sure your gutters and drains are clear beforehand. It’s especially important to check them frequently if you live in an area with many tall trees, as falling leaves can easily clog up and obstruct water flow.

Gutters:

Gutters should be cleaned twice a year—in the spring and in the fall, or more often if necessary. This can prevent water buildup at the base of your foundation and help keep your home dry.

Drains:

Drains should also be inspected regularly, especially in locations that are prone to flooding or excess rainwater. Checking that they’re free of debris will ensure they don’t get clogged during a storm and as a result, prevent any serious damage from occurring.

Additionally, you should never pour grease down the drain or flush certain materials down the toilet such as feminine products or wipes, as these can lead to severe blockages that may cause extensive water damage in your home or business. Keeping these materials out of the drains will ensure any runoff caused by storms is able to flow freely away from your property instead of into it.

Invest in Regular Plumbing Maintenance

Regular plumbing maintenance is something you should invest in. Doing so is a great preventative step to enjoy the peace of mind that your plumbing will be running well and won’t cause any water damage. A trusted plumber can inspect all of your pipes, fix any small problems, and alert you to any issues that could become more serious if left unchecked.

Common Repairs and Fixes

Common plumbing repairs and maintenance include checking for leaks, inspecting the quality of pipes, clearing out clogs, fixing running toilets, checking for exposed pipes, repairing or replacing fixtures, testing water pressure and temperature systems, examining gas lines for leaks or corrosion, providing emergency shutoff valves for sink and tub drains, replacing corroded water heaters or other appliances. And don’t forget about drain cleaning—it’s a smart idea to do regularly in order to keep your drainage system running smoothly.

Taking the time to invest in regular plumbing maintenance means that you won’t have a surprise flooding event when something decides to break down or a pipe bursts cascading gallons of water everywhere. So take some time now to make sure your home or business stays dry and free from unexpected water damage down the road.

Protect Appliances and Other Sources of Water

Whenever possible, appliance hoses should be fitted with an alarm system that will detect a water leak and shut off the main water supply to the building. Though these can be costly upfront, they can save you an incredible amount of money—not to mention grief—down the line. You should also inspect these hoses and shut off valves at least once a year.

Also, if you keep an aquarium, install a protective plastic tray or cushion underneath it in case of any leaks. And don’t forget to check out other sources of water around your home or business, like air conditioning and heating units, pipes in laundry rooms or bathrooms, hot tubs and pools, waterbeds, ice makers and dishwashers.

You can take simple steps now to protect yourself from potential damage later on down the line:

• Make sure hoses are correctly connected
• Inspect for leaking or excessively worn hoses
• Disconnect hoses when not in use
• Monitor the humidity level in your home
• Shut off valves for individual appliances when not in use

Water damage is an unfortunately imminent risk for any home or business, but if you take the necessary steps to be prepared, you can help prevent it from occurring. Regular maintenance, assessing your appliances for leaks, and making sure you’re insured are key to ensuring that if you do experience water damage, you have the resources and the resources that you need for recovery.

At PuroClean, we know firsthand how devastating water damage can be. That’s why we make it our mission to be there for you when you need us most. With fast response times and experts on hand, PuroClean can help you in a quicker and more efficient manner than ever before. Contact us today and let us help you recover quickly and safely.