It’s important to learn the best ways to avoid water damage before water can cause serious problems to your home and property. Water damage claims are among the most often filed for homeowners and renter’s insurance. It’s a risk all year long, but the good news is that there are steps you can take to protect your home from the damage that water can cause. Here’s how.
Avoiding Water Damage Inside Your Home
There’s a lot that could go wrong with water inside your home, but following these tips can help you avoid water damage indoors.
- Know the location of your water main. The water main is the pipe that supplies water to the rest of your home. It is equipped with a shutoff valve, so it’s important to know where it’s located so that you can turn off the water if something goes wrong. If a pipe bursts, something is leaking, or a toilet is overflowing, it’s a good idea to shut off the water main and call a licensed professional right away to minimize damage.
- Perform regular maintenance on home appliances. Washing machines, dishwashers, and refrigerators are the most common causes of water damage in homes. Check the hoses and attachments to these appliances regularly because if one comes loose or breaks, you could have some serious water trouble on your hands.
- Keep an eye on your water bill. Water usage should stay fairly constant from month to month, with an obvious spike in summer for watering grass and plants. If you notice a big spike in your water usage from one month to the next with no other explanation, there’s a good chance you’ve got a leak.
- Fix leaks promptly. A leaky faucet or slow drip in a pipe might seem unimportant, but leaving them alone can result in serious water damage. Over time, leaks can lead to the growth of mold and mildew, dry rot, and even structural damage.
Outdoor Water Damage Prevention
Now that you know what to look for indoors, let’s take a look at some steps you can take outside of your home to prevent water damage.
- Disconnect hoses in the fall. Leaving hoses connected to water spigots can wreak some serious havoc on your outdoor plumbing. Standing water left in the hose can freeze and force an ice block back into the spigot. This can lead to burst pipes, stopped water flow, and other damage to your home and property.
- Keep your gutters clear. It’s important to clean your gutters out at least twice a year to be sure snow and water have an exit route from your roof, preventing pooling on the roof or near the foundation.
Black Diamond Water Damage & Disaster Restoration Is HereEven if you’ve done your best in avoiding water damage, accidents still happen. That’s why Black Diamond Water Damage & Disaster Restoration is here to help. Call us right away since early treatment is key to restoring your property and preventing any further damage. We offer water damage restoration and mold remediation services in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the neighboring cities, including West Valley, Sandy, and Murray. We also provide fire, sewage, and other emergency restoration services 24/7, so give us a call whenever disaster strikes!
