Pro Tips on How to Prevent Water Damage
Water damage is a severe problem, especially in homes. Water damage can destroy a home’s interior, contents, and structural integrity. Do you notice water in your home? Here are some tips to keep your family secured until the water source is shut off and corrected.
It is not uncommon for water damage to occur in homes.
Water damage is typical. Various sources can cause water damage, including rain and snow; leaks from pipes; and flooding from burst pipes or faulty drainage systems. Water damage can also occur in homes due to plumbing problems or poor construction practices. For example, if a homeowner installed lines incorrectly.
Even if you don’t live in an area prone to flooding, there are still ways you can prevent your home from becoming flooded during periods of heavy rainfall or snowfall:
- Install gutters so that water drains away from your property quickly after it rains.
- Install storm drains around the perimeter of your property so that excess runoff doesn’t collect in ponds at the bottom of walls or patios–this will prevent basement flooding if it rains hard enough!
Check for Leaks
The first thing you should do is check the toilet, faucet, and shower. These are all places where water can leak into your home from pipes or fixtures that may be faulty. Next, check all your house pipes (i.e., under sinks and on ceilings). Finally, make sure there aren’t any leaks around windows by matching them with a flashlight at night when no one else is home or just before going to bed, so they don’t wake up startled at 3 am!
Check walls and ceilings for cracks or holes from moisture saturation (moisture coming out through walls). Ensure basement floors are covered with plastic sheets before heavy rains come through. Having mold growing inside every room due to excessive amounts of moisture can make breathing difficult, especially if asthma is involved, because mold spores contain allergens that cause allergic reactions like sneezing, fits, etc.
Turn off the main water supply.
One of the most crucial things to do when dealing with water damage is to turn off the main water supply. You want to ensure that there are no leaks in your home and that this is not an issue when you return home. Call an expert if you do not know how to turn off a central water supply!
Repair any potential leaks immediately.
Water damage is a severe problem, especially in the bathroom and kitchen. Leaks can cause water to seep into the walls and ceiling, causing mold or mildew growth. A leaking toilet can also lead to decay on the floor surrounding your bathroom, eventually leading to structural issues with your home if left untreated.
To prevent these types of damages from happening:
- Check for any visible leaks around your home’s plumbing system using an inexpensive home inspection kit that includes a camera or flashlight (you’ll need something small enough to fit inside a wall).
- You should also check behind appliances like dishwashers and washing machines after they’ve stopped working correctly. This will help identify where in their area there may be damage caused by leaking pipes that need repair before they cause further damage throughout other areas of your house!
Turn off your automatic sprinkler system.
If you have an automatic sprinkler system, turn that off as well.
- Find the main water shutoff valve (you’ll likely see it on your property). If you can’t find the main valve, shut off any other faucets and sprinklers.
- Shut off all faucets immediately.
Make use of your vacuum.
When water seeps into the walls of your house, it can cause mold to grow inside the walls. If this happens, you have to deal with the fact that your home will no longer smell like fresh paint or carpeting–it will smell like mildewed carpeting instead! Your wet/dry vacuum is your friend during hard times like these. Here’s what you can do:
- Vacuum up any standing water from around the windows and doors in your home.
- Use the machine to suck up any remaining water from inside cabinets and drawers.
However, If you don’t have access to a wet/dry vacuum, use a sponge or towel to soak up standing water before it finds its way into cracks around windows and doors. A wet/dry vacuum is a good investment. Try owning one now.
Don’t run faucets with a shutoff handle.
You see, when you pull down on the lever at the end of your faucet and let go of it, then open it up again, it can cause severe damage if there’s any pressure left in that pipe. That’s because when a pipe bursts (or even gets too full), it’ll spray out all its water like a garden hose warms up while watering plants in the summertime heat. This means lots of steamy wetness all over everything around you and everything else nearby, including your walls, furniture, and possibly even yourself!
Stop using glassware and crockery.
Glassware is incredibly fragile; it might break if you drop it on the floor or step on it. It’s also easy to knock over when carrying food from the fridge or cupboard to the table.
Use other items instead of glassware or crockery–or at least use them more carefully.
Throw away any items that may have come into contact with water immediately after washing them off entirely with a mild detergent in warm water before placing them back into storage containers where they belong.
Be mindful of everything!
Water damage can be expensive, and not just your home suffers from this type of damage. Water damage can affect your family and your pets too! Mold also poses health risks for pets and people who reside in areas with high humidity due to heavy rainfall during storms or after prolonged periods without sunlight (wintertime).
Residential water damage in Shawnee, KS, is a huge problem for homeowners and renters alike. It can be costly to fix, and severe health risks are associated. If you suspect water damage has affected your home, contact the professionals.
If you notice discolored water leaking from any part of your home’s plumbing system, it’s essential to call a professional to fix the problem.