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In this guide, we will walk you through how to protect your home against water damage, we’ll delve into seven crucial tips designed to help protect your home against water damage or any water-related risks.
From proactive maintenance strategies to early detection methods to help protect your home against water damage, each recommendation aims to create a resilient defense on how to protect your home against water damage. Let’s explore these key insights to ensure your home remains secure and well-protected from the challenges posed by water-related issues.
It has been proven beyond reasonable doubt that water plays a significant role in human existence, placing it among one of the most important parts of human life that no one can do without.
Survival to an extent can’t be achieved without human being and animals depending mostly on the usage of water. At the same time, water is capable of causing more dangerous harm if not well managed.
Scared with last sentence? calm down, this content is not meant to scare you but to take you through the necessary steps that you need to take when you experience a water damage.
Water damage might sound simple and casual in your ears, but I can tell you that it is capable of causing many problems to your home, for these reasons you need to know tips to help protect your home against water damage.
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If care is not taken, when it happens, it is capable of reshaping homeowners’ focus as it comes with mental stress.
It gives homeowners an entirely different thing to think of, imposing in their mind and head, thoughts of how to deal with situation on ground. But not to worry, we got you covered in these 7 tips to help protect your home against water damage.
Firstly, let us take a brief look at what is water damage and some causes.
What is Water Damage
What damage is the negative effect of a water outbreak in homes and on properties. It can be a natural event in form of flood or a man-made mistake leading to leakages or water outbreak in homes.
Causes of Water Damage
Overflow of Water
A water tap that is not turned off after use will definitely lead to an overflow of water if the needful is not quickly done. This often happens in the kitchen, toilet, bathroom, and other strategic places in the house where a water tap is fixed.
This can lead to the damage of carpet, floors, walls, and any another other property around the area where the overflow occurred.
Blocked Drains
When a drainpipe that allows free flow of water is blocked and it is left unattended to, it will cause a lot of pressure on the pipe, which may cause water outbreak and automatically leads to water damage.
Leaking Roof
A leaking roof serves as a passage for water to flow into your home when there is either a heavy downpour or normal rain. If not fixed, you risk losing some of your properties to water damage.
Dishwasher Leakage
Dishwasher are used for washing dishes and washing entails usage of water, so in a situation where your dishwasher is leaking, it can lead to water damage on some of the properties around the dishwasher.
As we proceed further, I will be showing you tips on how to handle water damage.
7 Tips to Help Protect Your Home Against Water Damage
As a homeowner, it will surprise you to learn that the majority of water damage to a home is not due to natural disasters like flooding. Majority of the time It’s actually due to unchecked plumbing issues that lurk on the property — can be from slow leaks, corroded pipes, and degraded valves and supply lines. Sometimes it can even be your water make-up.
Fortunately, many of these issues are preventable with some basic, proactive home maintenance.
Reading this article, it is obvious you want to reduce the chances of water damage in your home? Here are some tips to help protect your home against water damage that PuroClean of Lansdale recommend:
- Familiarize yourself with the location of your main water shutoff valve and master the process of turning it on and off. Understanding how to operate this valve is crucial in case of a burst pipe or other water-related emergencies. Main water valves are commonly found on exterior walls, in garages, or basements. For those with a public water supply, the valve is usually on the street-side of the home. If you rely on a well, expect to find the main water valve on the same side as your well. Typically, turning the valve handle clockwise until it stops will shut off the entire water supply to your home, a necessary step during leaks or repairs. This can really protect your home against water damage.
- Have your plumbing systems professionally inspected.
If you’re uncertain about your plumbing system or harbor concerns, consider engaging a licensed plumber to conduct a thorough inspection for any existing problems or potential issues on the horizon. A helpful suggestion is to request the plumber to label key components, such as your main water valve, and other critical plumbing valves with distinctive markers, like a red flag or a piece of tape. This simple measure can significantly expedite the identification of these components during emergencies, and it can protect your home against water damage. - Visually inspect your pipes regularly
You don’t need to be a plumbing expert to spot potential issues with your pipes. A proactive approach involves regularly inspecting your home by walking through it, paying close attention to any exposed pipes, fittings, valves, and visible supply lines can be a useful tip to help protect your home against water damage. This simple practice can help you identify and address potential concerns before they escalate.
- You’ll want to look for signs of damage. These can include things like:
- Discoloration on metal pipes (blue, green, yellow, or white, usually)
- Cracking or crimping of plastic, PEX, or polymer parts
- Deposits or rust-like build-up
- Inspect braided metal on supply hoses for fraying and check for discoloration. If any of these issues are detected, it’s advisable to proactively engage a licensed plumber to replace the affected part. Unaddressed problems could potentially escalate into more significant and costly issues over time.
- Keep a vigilant eye out for evidence of slow or weeping leaks. Unlike obvious leaks, slow leaks can be particularly tricky to detect until they evolve into more substantial problems. Regularly examine your appliances, including washing machines, dishwashers, and fixtures, as well as the surrounding areas, to spot any signs of leaks. Early detection can save you from larger issues later on.
- Look in cabinets and areas that have pipes connecting to appliances or fixtures (under the kitchen sink, for example) for telltale signs. Is there discoloration or damage on the wood below a pipe or fitting? Is the paint peeling? These environmental signs could point to a slow leak this is an important tip to Help Protect Your Home Against water damage
- Tag or label any items you replace or repair.
This is yet another way to protect your home against water damage. If you do end up having a licensed plumber replace a part or make a repair, be sure to label the item with the date it was replaced or repaired and keep records of the work done. Plumbing fixtures have a set lifespan and knowing when you last replaced or repaired a part can help you plan ahead for a maintenance check of that fixture. - Have your water tested.
The chemical make-up of your water can lead to corrosion. Mineral content, pH, and chlorides are examples of water characteristics that should be measured and controlled to prevent issues with your plumbing system. This is especially important tip to help protect your home against water damage especially if you own a well. Consider having your water tested and treated, if necessary, by a certified professional to help guard against an often-overlooked threat to your home’s plumbing. - Inspect and replace toilet supply lines and valves proactively.
Just as you inspect your exposed pipes, you should also check your toilet supply lines and valves regularly. Make sure the supply hoses going to and from your toilets are in good condition and consider replacing them if they have signs of wear and tear or are more than a few years old. Read the installation instructions carefully and do not overtighten connections. Many of these products are installed hand-tight only, which means don’t use a wrench. You should also open your toilet tank and evaluate the flushing valve for signs of degradation, including crazing, cracking, or discoloration of plastic components to protect your home against water damage.
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As we conclude this guide, we hope the insights provided empower you to take proactive measures on how to protect your home against of water damage. By implementing the seven crucial tips discussed, from regular maintenance to early detection methods, you are building a robust defense that can withstand potential challenges.
Remember, a secure home is a resilient one. Let these 7 tips to Help Protect your home against water damage move you towards ensuring your home remains a haven, well-protected and prepared against the unexpected. Thank you for exploring these strategies with us, and may your home stay safe and sound for years to come.