Creating a water damage resistant home is a process. It requires multiple steps and consistent upkeep. However, that doesn’t mean that doing so is complex or burdensome. In just a few simple steps and some regular maintenance, you can make your home a fortress against water damage. From our water damage restoration professionals at Rumsey Construction in Columbia SC, here are seven simple things you can do to make this happen.
Water Damage Cleanup in Columbia SC
Regularly Maintain Your Appliances
Check your appliances often for leaks according to the manufacturer’s instruction manual. They do not cover damages because of a lack of maintenance in most of the homeowner’s insurance policies. Upgrade your hoses, such as washing machine hoses, and replace regularly to avoid the most reported cause of water loss and damage.
Shut Off Your Water While Away
Whenever you leave your home for an extended period of time, water damage experts highly recommend shutting off your water while away. You don’t really get any benefit from leaving your water on, but if something goes wrong while you are gone your home could suffer major flood damage without your knowledge.
Install Leak Detectors
One way to counter the risk of your home flooding while you are away is to install leak detectors. Leak detectors work like smoke detectors and alert you if they detect excess moisture. You can install smart leak detectors that link up to your phone so you can be notified of a flood in your home no matter where you are.
Fix Or Replace Your Caulking
An easy way to eliminate leaks is to fortify weak spots around your windows and doors with caulking. Some common signs of water damage that could be addressed with caulking are mold spots, bubbled paint, crumbly drywall or plaster, and evidence of termite activity.
Clean Your Rain Gutters
You should clean out your rain gutters every few months to keep them free of debris so water can freely run through them. Blockages in your rain gutters cause water to flow out the sides of your gutters and down the side of your house.
Maintain Your Trees And Shrubs
It’s wise to minimize landscaping near pipes in the ground to reduce the risk of roots colliding with your pipes and causing them to burst. Moreover, you may need to remove trees that have grown too big and any new trees should be planted at least 20 feet away from your home.
Replace Copper Pipes
Copper is still an extremely common material used to make pipes. However, copper pipes are prone to corrosion and are more likely to burst in freezing temperatures. PEX is a newer material used for pipes that is more flexible and durable. It is worth considering making the update, especially if you are already doing renovations.
It may be impossible to guarantee a 100% water damage-proof home, but you can get pretty close! By following the simple steps recommended by our restoration experts at Rumsey Construction in Columbia, SC, you will greatly reduce the likelihood of having a water damage disaster in your home.
