Reasons For Water Damage And How To Prevent Them

water damage company near edinaIt is inevitable that everyone will run into problems regarding water damage in one way or another. If it hasn’t happened to you yet, it’s important to prepare and prevent it in any way you can to avoid these situations. 

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What Causes Water Damage?

First, it’s important to understand the most common reasons for water damage. In the home, there can be clogging of drainage systems, such as blocked toilets or sinks due to hair or waste. These kinds of blockages can lead to overflowing and damage to floors. When these blockages are left unchecked, your house can be left vulnerable to leaks in plumbing systems, burst pipes, and sewage backup. Other reasons for in-house issues can also be malfunctioning air conditioners, other faulty appliances (such as a refrigerator), and leaky plumbing systems. 

Outside your home, a huge factor in any weather conditions or changes. Weather conditions can clog your gutters, burst pipes, flood yards or indoors, and cause drainage systems to fail. While there are all of these factors that can happen to anyone, they can absolutely be prevented if you are prepared. 

How Can I Prevent Water Damage?

With different causes of water damage, there are also different preventative measures. It’s important that we go over each measure to ensure that you are prepared in any way.

Outdoors

First is to go outside and attend to gutters and downspouts to make sure that they are cleaned of any debris. The gutters are there to help manage water during a storm, steering it off your roof and away from your home. If these gutters and downspouts are clogged, this preventative measure is stopped. It’s important to clean them out often. Depending on the foliage around your home, you could clean it anywhere between every three months to twice a year. If you do not know, it’s safer to check often to get a feel for what is best for your home. 

During changes in weather, especially when transitioning from summer to fall, turning off and disconnecting hoses is imperative. Standing water in these hoses will freeze, which stops water flow and may lead to bursting pipes. 

Indoors

The most important part of your home is the water main shutoff; therefore, it is extremely important for you to know where there is. In cases of emergencies, you’ll need to know exactly where this is so you can shut off water access. 

It’s essential to maintain and care for appliances in your home, especially since one of the most common causes of water damage is these appliances. This includes clogged toilets/sinks, washing machines/refrigerators/dishwasher hoses, air conditioners, and hot water heaters. Make sure that all of these machines are well maintained and that any parts, such as hoses, are replaced regularly. If any of these hoses or pipes have leaks, it’s important not to put that on the back burner for another day.

Checking your water pressure regularly is a habit that should be integrated into your life as well. If the water pressure is too high, pipes can burst, so it’s important to have a gauge to check where the pressure in your home is at. You should also know what water pressure your home is designed for, typically at 40-60 PSI (most homeowners prefer the middle ground of 50 PSI).

You can also install water detection devices that can alert you when its sensor is in contact with water, mostly used for slow leaks or low moisture levels that would go unnoticed otherwise until it is too late. It can be placed by any appliance that uses water to prevent water damage and/or mold growth. 

When Should I Call A Professional?

It’s important to know when to call a professional. Though there are several preventative measures that can be done on your own, there are some things that are better left to professionals. If any project seems difficult or uncomfortable to undertake, a licensed professional can help out, such as Restoration 1 of Greater Minneapolis. Keeping your home water damage free is important, especially when done correctly and safely.