Preventing Water Damage

Experiencing water damage in the home is time consuming and costly to fix. Thankfully, you can take some measures to avoid the headache of water damage happening in your home. Here are some tips on how to prevent a water disaster, such as a water backup, water overflow and water discharge from occurring on your property.

Water Backup

When water is forced to reverse direction and go back the other way, due to a stoppage of water flow, this means you have a water backup. There are many ways to have a water backup, like when water exceeds the capacity of the home’s drainage systems or a backed-up toilet.

• Take care of a back-up toilet, tub or sink immediately. Call a professional plumber if necessary.
• Clean your gutters and downspouts. Remove all debris and leaves. Make sure that the cutters can handle a heavy rain without overflowing.
• Make sure your landscaping and irrigation is adequate, accurately maneuvering the water away from the foundation.
• Clean you sump pump annually.
• Install your basement sinks and toilets with backflow valves and standpipes.
• Check your insurance for coverage of sewer backup. Typically, most sewer system backups are not covered under a homeowners policy or under flood insurance.

Water Overflow

When water exceeds it’s boundaries, an water overflow can occur.

• Never leave leave a filling tub or sink unattended.

Water Discharge

A water discharge is when water is flowing or issuing out of a broken pipe or from a home appliance, for example.

• Prevent frozen pipes by relocating exposed pipes and add insulation to attics, basements and crawl spaces.
• Pay attention to musty smells or stains appearing on ceilings and walls and investigate the source.
• A significant increase in your water bill can indicate a leak in the home somewhere.
• Maintain your water heater by scheduling a professional plumbing inspection once every two years.
• Every six months, inspect your washing machine’s water supply line hoses for cracks and kinks. Also, to avoid damage to hoses, leave a three-inch gap between the back of the washing machine and the wall.
• Inspect your toilet’s flushing mechanism.
• Inspect plumbing beneath the sink for signs of leakage and corrosion.
• Do a yearly inspection of all the pipes in the home for signs of condensation and corrosion.