Water damage is the most frequent and most costly issue homeowners might report. While other issues related to wind and hail may happen a few times a year, they cannot compete for the likelihood of water damage. Perhaps you have heard about your friends returning home from vacation to find their house flooded. The issue can be as trivial as a burst pipe or a leaking faucet in the kitchen. Water can get into the house in different ways, but the result in every situation remains the same—you will have to deal with the tedious task of cleaning up water damage. Even though there are many options for restoring your home, you should also know how to prevent water damage in the future.
Here are six tips for preventing and repairing water damage in the home.
1. Contact a water damage advisor
Upon experiencing water damage, most people attempt to clean it themselves. While some might be comfortable changing the pipes and cleaning the mold on the walls, others are not.
Calling an expert for help and letting them estimate the damage is a better option since they are familiar with potential issues water damage can cause in a home. A layperson may not be able to detect complicated issues like mold and mildew or loose wiring, but a professional has advanced equipment that helps them detect these issues more significantly.
Their thorough inspection can lead you to figure out other potentially serious issues lurking in the corners of your home, shielded from your eyes. So, be mindful when taking matters as serious as water damage in your hands; do you know what you’re doing? If the answer is not 100% affirmative, it’s better to call in a water damage advisor and let them figure a way out for you.
2. Locate the type of water causing damage
There are three most common types of water leakage that may occur at any unfortunate time.
1- Clean water used for household purposes may leak out from taps, broken pipes, or in some cases, even rain may bring a flood inside the home.
2- Graywater, used water from washing machines, dishwashers, and clean toilets.
3- Blackwater, the dirtiest and most harmful of all, can seep through sewages, containing pathogens and bacteria.
In the case of floods caused by clean water, water damage is easier to clean, and homeowners can do it themselves. However, damage caused by black water is not recommended to clean on your own; instead, call a water damage expert and let them deal with the grave issue.
3. Dry the water damage location
As soon as you discover water damage in your house, you should dry the water out as quickly as possible. Taking action within 24 hours can prevent mold and mildew from growing in your home. Before drying up, be sure to take out everything, especially furniture and carpets. Allow sunlight into the house, and use fans to help the location dry out quickly. Wipe up any excess water with wipers while flatly placing the soaked rugs and carpets outside under the sun.
4. Check and clean the gutters twice a year
Ensure that your drains are not blocked, and water flows unimpeded at least twice a year to prevent water damage. You should also clean your gutters periodically to prevent ice dams. If standing water accumulates in your gutters, the structure can be damaged. In addition, unmanaged run-off damages the foundations of a house due to overflowing puddles.
You should also keep your downspouts clean to ensure they direct the water away from the house. Especially when moving dirty water to the main drainage system, the downspout should always let the water flow continuously.
5. Inspect mold in the house periodically
Mold growth can proliferate in the house during the rainy season when the air becomes very damp, and water damage quadruples. It often grows close to water sources such as pipes, behind wallpaper in bathrooms, under carpets and on ceiling tiles. Paper products are also prone to mold growth. Periodic inspections will let you catch the mold before it causes significant damage and a waste of money. CCTV Drain Surveys in London is also one of the best solution to manage water damage in your home.
6. Know the water supply main in the house
The water-supply mains is one of the most important aspects of a house’s plumbing as it controls the water that runs through your house. As soon as you find water damage or plumbing issues, your first reaction should be to shut off the water mains. It will help minimize the damage.
Even in a situation where you will be away for a while, you should shut off the water mains to avoid water leaks.
Conclusion
Being proactive in inspecting potential entry points for water can help prevent water damage. You can take steps to ensure that the gutters and downspouts are clean, the pipes are not leaking, and there is no mold growth under the carpet.
In case you’re already facing a flooding problem, call for help, a water damage expert instead of attempting to clean up water damage on your own.
I am Jones Smith and I am here to share my experience and expertise in writing. I’ve been writing articles for different publications for more than 6 years. I have a varied range of interests and that’s why I love blogging about different topics. In my opinion, blogging is a lot like acting, and I consider writing blog posts as an acting job. I am an entrepreneur by heart and there is nothing big or small when it comes to starting a business.