subject: Preventing Water Damage Within Your Home
[print this page] Preventing Water Damage within Your Home Preventing Water Damage within Your Home
The primary signs of water destruction might look as if minor: a drip here, a drop there nothing that cant be dried up with a towel.
But warnings similar to water stains on the ceilings or a leak in the kitchen sink can lead to genuine problems like a damaged roof or rotten floorboards. A burst pipe can hurt your your furniture as well as added personal property, as well as flooding know how to extremely rapidly lead to problems with mold.
Why take a chance? Learn where your residence is most likely to experience water damage, and what you can do to help avoid it.
The Kitchen
The kitchen's is a place with a whole lot of water. Look carefully at your major appliances.
The Dishwasher: Periodically verify for leaks below the sink where the pipe connects to the water supply line. Look around the base of the dishwasher for evidence of leaks, such as stained, warped, or soft flooring materials, or water damage to nearby cabinets.
The Refrigerator: If your refrigerator has an ice-maker, make sure the hose connection is firmly attached to the water supply line. Also, a moist spot on the floor may be a symptom of a crimped ice-maker line about to burst.
The Sink: Replace deteriorated caulk around sinks, and check the pipes beneath the sink for leaks. A slow-draining pipe may point toward a partially blocked drain that needs cleaning.
The Bathroom
The bathroom is another water damage hot spot. Heres what you should inspect and address:
Showers And Bathtubs: Take away and replace deteriorated or cracked caulk and grout. Water from a cracked supply pipe behind the wall can leak through these damaged sealants, causing stains or soft places around nearby walls and floors. Leaking drain pipes and shower pan leaks are also common sources of water damage. If required, call a plumber or contractor for help.
Sinks: Check underneath the sink for leaks from water supply lines or drainpipes. If necessary, make contact with a plumber or contractor for help.
Toilets: Clogs can result from too much toilet paper or objects like as hanging bowl deodorants. In addition, various chlorine tablet cleaners possibly will eat away inner plastic or rubber pieces, leading to a leak. Once more, dont hesitate to call in a professional.
The Basement, Laundry, Or Utility Room
Washing Machine: Check hoses regularly for bulging, cracking, fraying, and leaks around hose ends. Replace the hose if a problem is found or every 3 to 5 years as part of a practical preservation agenda. To assist build sure the pipe doesnt bend, allow at least 4 inches (or eleven centimeters) between the water connection and the back of the washing machine. Be sure to read the manufacturers installation instructions carefully.
Water Heater: Most water heaters last 8 to fifteen years. Moist spots on the flooring or a rusted tank may signal a leak. Water heaters must be mounted on the lowest level of the home, next to a floor drain, or inside a drain pan piped to the floor drain.
Sump Pump: Battery-operated backup sump pumps can help protect against power failure or failure of the primary pump. Try out the sump pump before the start of each moist season. Sump pumps are not intended to last more than 10 years and should contain a number of components changed or serviced within those ten years.
Since water might still come through an overflowing drain or cracks inside the foundation walls, make certain items stored within the basement are kept off the ground. Home furniture must be on casters or shims and set away from flooring drains.
Stopping Interior Leaks
The quickest means to impede a leak is to turn off your homes water. Of course its not a permanent fix, but turning off the water in the moment can provide you time to fix the specific problem. Make certain every person within your household is aware where the water shutoff valve is and how to open and close it. Test it regularly for problems, and shut off the water if you are away from your house for more than a few days or more. Based on the severity of your leak, you may be able to fix it with relative ease. Plumbing, though, is a complicated business; if youre not confident what to do, dont hesitate to call a plumber or a contractor.
Finding Possible Outdoor Leaks
The Roof
Its not rocket science: roofs are there to keep your home dry, and if youve got water coming in, your roof is a pretty good place to start. That said, there are a number of different ways for water to get in through your roof, so consider the following things as you conduct the examination:
Keep the roof free from leaves, brushwood, and additional litter to permit for suitable drainage. Blocked gutters can easily lead to poor drainage, which in turn can lead to leaks in both the walls and at the foundation.
Make sure air can flow freely through all soffit and roof vents. This will lessen the buildup of high temperature along with humidity and help expand the life of the roof.
Consult a expert on using a preservative or cleaner (depending on the kind of roof you have) to aid limit the weathering effects of moisture and slow the growth of molds and mosses.
Replace missing, curling, cupping, ruined, or cracked shingles.
Watch for damage in valley areas of the roof, and around the flashing at chimneys, vents, and other junctions.
Check your attic around flues, plumbing vents, and chimneys for roof leaks, particularly if youve seen water stains on the ceiling.
If its winter and youve got water in the attic or see water stains on your ceilings or walls, look for some ice dams
From Gutters To The Ground
Once youre off the roof, there are still likely culprits to look into. Get a look around the foundation of your home; a few simple modifications might make all the difference.
Place splash blocks by the end of downspouts to take water away from the foundation, or insert an additional length of downspout if necessary.
Every spring, have the air conditioning (A/C) system serviced by a skilled contractor. Make sure their repair comprises of inspecting and cleaning the A/C condensation pan drain line. Change the air filters on a regular basis.
Before winter starts, disconnect garden hoses from all spigots and turn off every spigots water supply.
Replace any damaged caulk around home windows or doors.
Repaint wood siding as needed.
Fill in any low spots next to the home to help water drain away from the foundation.
Hardware That Can Help
To help keep an eye on these or other trouble spots, you may want to consider installing a water leak detection system, particularly if youre frequently away from the home. Leak detection systems can be either active or passive. Along with leak detection systems, individual appliance systems can be put in on specific home appliances.
Active Leak Detection Systems
These systems frequently generate some sort of alarm, however they also perform a function that will prevent the water flow. They feature some type of shutoff valve and a means to determine that a leak is occurring. A good number devices use moisture sensors to detect a leak. Other methods utilize a flow sensor and a timer to determine that something is leaking and the water needs to be turned off. An active leak detection system can either function for an individual appliance or it can control a whole property.
Passive Leak Detection Systems
These systems, also called "water alarms," are intended to alert you to a possible water leak. They generally sound an audible alarm tone; some may perhaps also feature a flashing light. Passive systems are regularly battery-operated, stand-alone units. They are inexpensive and trouble-free to install. A number of simply sit on the floor while others may possibly be wall mounted. A moisture sensor is located on the base of the component and activates the alarm when it becomes moist. Battery-operated devices need to be tested often, and the batteries be supposed to be changed on a periodic basis.
Individual Appliance Systems
These systems are set up on a specific machine and will automatically shut off the water supply in case of a leak. Based on the kind of device, you might be able to install this system without any particular tools. But, in a number of cases, a qualified plumber may perhaps be needed.
Whole-House Systems
These systems feature a shutoff valve installed on the main water supply pipe. When the system detects a leak, it will automatically shut off the whole water supply. If you travel regularly, this type of system may well aid you rest assured while youre away from home. Whole-house systems normally get between 4 and six hours to set up, and a certified plumber is typically required.
Preventing Water Damage in Your Home
If you have suffered a water damage to your property, Gregory Restoration is here to help. We service all of Orange County, California --- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call: 949-366-1930
