Water damage to homes is one of the leading reasons people either lose property value or face severe damage. Sometimes, damages can even lead to issues like rot, drywall, or black mold, thus causing a severe impact on the structure and foundation of your house.
It can also bring undesirable guests, such as carpenter ants and termites, into your property. Damp wood is the ideal place for them to make their homes. If and when you try to deal with such damage in your home, it will cost you much money.
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The good news is that it does not have to be that way.
1. Checking the faucets and hoses from time to time
If you are serious about limiting water damage in your Fort Worth home, this is the first step you must take. Whenever the temperature dips during the winter, make it a point to disconnect the hoses from the faucets. This should be on your to-do list for the fall itself.
Because the water that remains in a hose could freeze back in the pipe and either cause a burst or halt the flow. This is the worst-case scenario that can affect the following parts of your home:
- Walls
- Floor
- Foundation
This also implies the hoses that lead to the different appliances that you use at home, such as refrigerators and washing machines, will be at risk.
2. Cleaning the downspouts and gutter
- Roofs
- Gutters
- Foundations
Do you want to save money on water damage restoration in Fort Worth? If yes, this is something that you must not neglect at all. Clean out your gutters regularly to avoid blockage. Consider cleaning the gutters at least twice a year. Clean the downspouts so that water can move through them. Make sure that water never pools in areas such as the following as they can ruin them:
If you cannot manage the overflow of water in your property, it can damage the foundation of your house.
3. Keeping the trees trimmed
Always trim the trees, bushes, and branches. Ensure you have planted the trees at least 20 feet from the drainage field and pipes. Roots can wrap around the pipes and lead to damage. In that case, you may have to look for water damage restoration near me.
4. Looking for leaks, cracks, and mold
Plumbing leaks can contribute to water damage to your home. The most evident signs of leaks are damp and dark spots in the following areas of your home:
- Floor
- Wall
- Ceiling
- Pipes
The commonest devices that are likely to cause such damage may be enumerated below:
- Toilets
- Washing machines
- Sinks
- Showers and bathtubs
- Dishwashers
- Water heaters
- Ice makers
If you ever come across any of the following, they could be a sign that there is a leak somewhere in your home:
- Chipped paint
- Chipped wallpaper
- Black specks
- Marks
You should look out for these in this particular case:
- Musty and moldy smell
- Areas of discoloration
- Termite activity
Make sure that you fix the cracked caulks by using freshly applied caulking. It is especially applicable to the areas around the doors and windows.
5. Knowing the location of your water main
An essential plumbing feature of the house may be the water main shutoff because your water main supplies water to the entire house. Water enters your home through the main and gets distributed through the pipes.
So, if you face a plumbing emergency in your home, you need to know where the water main is. That way, you would immediately turn off the water and restrict the damage that could have otherwise happened.
6. Maintaining appliances
Appliances tend to be the common cause of water damage within homes. So, you must maintain and check them regularly to ascertain whether they are functional or leaking. It needs to be ascertained according to the directions provided by the appliance manufacturers.
Experts recommend that you pay special attention to the condition of your refrigerator and washing machine hoses. When they become brittle and old, they tend to become leaky too. They are also among the most frequent cause of water loss for homeowners.
7. Fixing and investigating leaks quickly
If you find proof of a leak anywhere in your house, immediately investigate it. If you feel you can ignore moisture damage and put off making the necessary repairs ready to deal with the following problems:
- Mold
- Mildew
- Dry rot
- Structural damage to your home
Please remember that your homeowners’ insurance would only cover accidental and sudden damages. If any damage happens because of a lack of maintenance, a regular homeowners’ insurance policy would not cover it. These days, you can get such information on the internet as shared on many websites.
8. Installing water detection devices
Water detectors are small electronic devices that sound an alarm whenever their sensors come in contact with moisture. The main benefit of using these devices is that they help you detect low moisture levels and slow leaks that often go unnoticed. You can install them near the following devices to make sure that you can prevent the growth of molds and extensive damage:
- Water heaters
- Sump pumps
- Washing machines
- Dishwashers
- Toilets
More things to keep in mind
Apart from what we have said so far, there are some other things you must remember if you wish to save your home from water damage:
- Monitoring the water pressure
- Watching the water bill
- Knowing how to shut off the water main
- Inspecting the chimney and the roof
Check to see if there are unusual increases in your water bill – this needs to be done each month.
Conclusion
The thing with water damage is that it usually starts as being small. However, if you – the homeowner – ignore that, it can soon become a tidal wave of problems for you. It means making replacements and repairs that cost you a lot of money. It is another reason that if you ever come across any leakage or damage that looks suspicious and you find any, make sure you fix it immediately. If needed, call and enlist the help of a professional contractor you can trust.
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