How To Safeguard Your Home Against Water Damage
Water damage is a widespread phenomenon seen in almost every household. Be it small leaks through pipes or massive slab leaks, the damage that the water can bring your way is enormous.
Apart from conventional water damage, it can also occur due to environmental conditions like floods, heavy rains, etc. Water damage is a significant reason for the deterioration of the strength of the house and building.
The damage associated with the water is quite dangerous, and some of them can not be visualized by the naked eye.
Water seeps through holes and porous materials and damages the internal structure of the house. The problem calls for immediate action and cares through professionals.
A professional like water restoration damage San Diego understands the issues that occur due to water. They perform detailed analysis and often work with the latest tools and equipment to mitigate water risks.
Water damage is severe, and the cost associated with the same can range up to hundreds of dollars. The problem calls for immediate actions before the questions are exacerbated, with the help of a professional.
So, before we get into all the tips to safeguard the house from damage, let us look at where the problems develop to get a better idea.
What is water damage?
Water damage is the phenomenon in which a house or a building faces loss due to the invasion of water. This causes several problems like mold growth, material degradation, short circuits, removal of paint, and so many other damages. The damage caused due to water can penetrate through porous materials and are not visible immediately.
Water tends to seep inside the surface of the material and cause damage over time. Here, the damage will show up after several days or even weeks. This leaves the water damage to seep through the material, and it becomes nearly impossible to retrieve the strength of the material.
Water does not only damage the walls and other materials in the house, but it can also result in damage to human health by growing molds that release toxic gases during their growth. This can cause damage to the health of the individual and diseases related to nasal health.
All the issues need to be tackled precisely to maintain the integrity of the house as well as the individual living under the roof. Let us see the primary reasons that cause water damage.
Reasons for water damage
Be it your house or the leaks in your neighbors’ house. All can affect and damage the walls of the house. Water damage is very common and can occur due to several reasons like:
Leaking of pipes
Leaking pipes are one of the most common reasons for water damage. Pipes deteriorate over time and can develop rust. The rust can cause the pipes to burst or develop cracks.
The cracks cause the water to drip slowly and cause damage to the overhead sealings and walls of the house. The pipes can also burst if exposed to higher temperatures due to hot water supply and other reasons.
Households in areas where the winter is severe can cause frozen pipes leading to crack in the surface of the pipe.
Efforts need to be made to tackle the problems as this can damage the house slowly if the leak is not detected on time. The issues related to pipes can be solved using different methods like
❏ Insulating the pipes
❏ Using sturdy materials for the pipe
❏ Avoid supplying hot water.
❏ Check the pipes regularly.
❏ Replace old pipes to avoid damage
❏ And much more
Leaks in a washing machine
Washing machines can be a significant cause of water damage. The lines that are attached to the system are always under pressure and can develop cracks due to water pressure.
These cracks can cause a backflow of water, damaging the material completely. The backflow of the water is also caused due to the deposition of lint and minerals in the pipe.
So, how can the problem be avoided? The answer is simple, avoid keeping the valves open and turn off the supply of water from time to time to prevent the water pressure and cracks.
Clogged drains
Clogged drains are another major reason for water leaks that lead to damage. Bathrooms have clips due to hair buildup, while in the kitchen, the clogs can be observed due to grease and undisclosed waste.
This can lead to the building of pressure inside pipes, ultimately leading to clogged drains.
The clogged drains can be easily avoided by
❏ Installing mesh taps.
❏ Not disposing of grease down the sinks and rinsing the sinks thoroughly.
❏ Use appropriate cleaners to clean the entire sink region.
❏ A periodic check of the sinks and avoiding the use of chemical cleaners.
Clogged gutters
Gutters usually help to drain the water out of the roof. When the gutters are clogged with twigs, leaves, or other materials, the water often collects on the rooftops. Excessive collection of water for a longer duration of time causes the deterioration of the floor, leading to speaking water on the roof.
This can be avoided by keeping the gutters clean and checking any deposition of materials in the gutters.
Sewer lines
Sewer lines can be a major cause that can lead to issues related to water leaks. Though the leaks are not common unlike others they still have the potential to take the entire plumbing system down.
Sewers located on the outside of the house are usually clogged due to the roots of trees, flushing unwanted things, and other issues. This causes the sewer to clog and causes a high amount of damage to the plumbing system.
The problems related to sewers are severe and can be tackled only through a professional. So, ensure to call a professional whenever needed.
Failure of devices
Sump devices are often placed in the basement of the house. It is used to keep the basement dry.
When the sump breaks down it can potentially lead to floods in the basement. House owners should ensure to keep the sump always under check.
Other devices that work with water can also face damage and the devices need to be kept under constant check to avoid water damage.
Weather conditions
The most unpredictable, as well as an uncontrollable factor causing water damage, is the weather conditions. Rains, floods, typhoons, and other factors can severely affect the house and leave the owner with no choice of redemption.
How to avoid this problem? Well, precautions can be taken to prevent excess damage. Areas that are prone to flooding and other water issues can take precautions and follow the laws according to the state to avoid excessive issues.
Tips to safeguard the home from water damage
There are several ways in which you can, and one best way is to maintain the house and engage in regular water and plumbing system checks. Let us look at some other factors that can help safeguard the home from water damage.
1. Prevent basement seepage
Resealing the basement
There is no doubt rains can cause huge damage to the house floors if the water is not drained properly. One way to prevent the damage is by resealing the basement. This can be a result of dripping slabs and cracks in the floor.
Water access is often caused due to deteriorated water sealants and cement. So, ensure to check such areas and paint the area with an adequate water sealer to prevent exacerbation of the damage.
Drain the water away from the vicinity of the house
The drain water often parishes the quality of soil underneath the house avoiding seepage. The water flows directly to the walls of the house and can cause damage to the structure of the wall. Hence, the drain should be far away from the house to avoid water seepage.
Using backwater valve
Clogs in the sewer often lead to the flow of backwater, this can damage the entire basement in no time. To avoid this make sure to install backwater valves to let the water go outside rather than coming into the house.
2. Know about your plumbing system
Inspect the faucets and hoses
Make it a habit to check the faucets and hoses regularly. All the appliances that are connected to the water appliances like washing machines, heaters, and others need to be checked regularly to avoid any problems with the faucets and hoses.
This can help you keep track of the leaks and you can immediately see if the issue persists.
Inspect bathtubs
Check the rubber rings and caulk of the shower heads and tubs. Check the tubs to avoid issues like clogging and other similar problems.
Shut the water supply when not used for a longer duration
When the water is not used for longer times, in case of vacations and all, turn off the main water supply to avoid the water leakage through various appliances.
Know where the main valve is situated
Leaky faucets can cause water to gush into the house with pressure causing the damage in a severe manner. Know where the main valve is situated in the house, this will help to turn off the supply immediately and avoid flooding the floors.
Install pressure release system
Pressure can build up in pipes due to freezing and clogs. This often leads to increased water pressure that can adversely cause cracks in the pipes. Make sure to install a system that can release the pressure to avoid damage.
Check plumbing and heating pipes.
Heating pipes can have a high rate of damage. Ensure to check the pipes regularly to avoid damage on a large scale.
3. Look at the exterior
Exteriors also play a role in leakage.
- Caulk and seal windows to avoid the seepage of water.
- Check the roof and apply water sealants.
- Check the gutters to avoid the accumulation of water.
- Look for freezing in the pipes to avoid cracks.
- Add mesh traps to the gutters to avoid the debris to accumulate in the water.
4. Keep the possessions of the house safe
Water damage can be inevitable, but proper measures can be taken to avoid the damage to the possessions of the house.
- Store the excess grains and bulk materials in waterproof bins.
- Store valuables away from the source of water.
- Keep a check on all the walls and look closely at discoloring.
- And much more.
Cost of repair
The cost associated with the damage caused by water is extremely huge. It is often observed that for the full service a professional team like water restoration damage in San Diego can take anywhere between $11,000 to $20,000.
The amount can vary according to the damage and the span of the area affected.
The costs are no doubt high and no one can pay it off their pockets in a single go. To avoid heavy payments in a single go and not fall into debt, homeowners can use insurance for such damage.
The insurances are different in their approach and only cover the one-time costs associated with the damage.
A homeowner must make sure to properly examine the insurance. The best way to avoid all the damage is through maintenance.
And in case, the problem arises, contact a professional to avoid exacerbated damage and minimum cost as well.
Why use a professional service?
Professionals like water restoration damage are extremely necessary to solve the damage caused by water. It is useful to use such a service because:
- They can navigate the problem and create good plans on how to solve the issues.
- Homeowners get a deep insight into all their problems.
- They use the latest tools and techniques to solve the problem.
- The problem is solved promptly and after details are also taken into consideration.
- They can suggest multiple ways to solve the problem and cause minimum damage to the area.
- And so much more.
So, make sure to maintain the plumbing system of the house thoroughly and keep in check all the leaks and cracks.
This helps in getting rid of unwanted problems and also avoids excess and prevents rainwater from entering your house.
In case a problem arises contact a professional to look at the problem immediately. This can save a lot of money as well as time.
