Prevent Water Damage in Tehachapi

Water damage is the number one reason for weakening the foundation. Preventing water damage from coming into your Tehachapi home is going to be a lot cheaper than paying for major water damage repairs later down the road. When water damage hits your home, this could cause serious structural damage. Having damp wood could potentially lead to termites or even carpenter ants. Not only will water attract insects, this could cause serious growth for mold and mildew in your home, decreasing the air quality in your home. Here below are some great tips to follow to help prevent water damage to your Tehachapi home.

Proper Drainage

Be sure your home has the proper drainage to help prevent water damage to your home. Improper drainage from your home could cause water not to flow properly away from the foundation. Thus weaken the foundation which could cause uneven settling or even have cracks start to appear to your home. A gutter that is clogged at your house will send excess amounts of water flowing down your house where it is not needed or where it is not suppose to go. This could damage the siding on your house or even damage the foundation to your home. Make sure your downspout to your gutter can direct the water at least 5 to 10 feet away from your home. Check to see if your lawn has a slope of at least 6 inches over a 10-foot span away from the foundation of your home as well. This can help prevent walls from getting damaged, having cracked masonry, or even concrete leaks.

Sump Pump Maintenance

Another great tip is to always check your sump pumps regularly. You will definitely be grateful you did this when a storm has struck your home. You do not want to be in the middle of a storm and realize your sump pump is not working properly. A great rule of thumb to follow with this is to check your pump every 6 months or more. Be sure to even check it during a storm to make sure everything is flowing the way that it should. You can test your pump by filling it up with water and checking to make sure the float goes up, and the pump turns on. Once your pump turns on, the water level should then begin to fall. If you have backup pump, you can then test it the same way. Be sure to unplug your main pump first to allow the backup pump to kick on.

Check for Leaks

You should always do an inspection around your home to see if there are any leaks appearing. Having leaks coming in your Tehachapi home could cause structural damage and could even lead to mold and mildew in your home. If you notice a leak, you should have it fixed immediately. The longer you put off leaks in your home, the more you are at risk of having termites in your home or have severe structural damage that could cost you more money that should have been prevented.