Water damage can be a huge headache. It can cause extensive, and often expensive, damage to your home or office. In some cases, water damage may even be the precursor to more serious problems like mold growth. Obviously, then, it’s important to do everything you can to prevent water damage from happening in the first place.
Here are seven ways to predict and avoid future water damage.
Water can be a blessing or a curse. As much as we need it to drink, wash and farm with, too much of it can do serious damage to most anything.
One of the most devastating results of water damage is not having a way to predict when you’ll have a problem. Some people may believe that flooding will only happen during the rainy season or after a heavy storm but this is an incorrect assumption. In fact, many floods are caused by water seeping in through tiny cracks in the foundation of your building. Since those leaks often don’t contain enough water initially to cause immediate notice, they can just as easily cause significant damage even before you realize they’re there. If you need help with any repairs from those types of issues here’s how to avoid future water damage.
1) Fix all your leaks: No matter where they are, if you see small cracks or anything that looks like it could be a place for water to seep in, patch it up with some epoxy and make sure the area dries out completely before painting over it. This is especially important if you have any tiles on the floor or walls of your home. They may look pretty but they can also hold moisture against the wall while still allowing enough room for the water molecules to pass through creating a perfect environment for mold growth.
2) Check your gutters: It’s common sense but many people don’t do this one thing that could help prevent future flood damage. When it rains, debris gets washed off the roof and into the gutters. If they’re dirty, make sure to clean them out with help of professional plumbers, or you’ll wind up with an expensive repair bill when water starts coming in through your ceiling.
3) Get rid of unnecessary furniture: This may sound like a strange way to help prevent future flood damage but there’s actually solid reasoning behind it. All that extra stuff you have lying around can take away storage space that would otherwise be used for items like blankets or pillows that might come in handy later.
4) Get some plants: Not only are plants good for indoor air quality, but if they’re placed correctly they can also act as barriers against moisture damage. The best place to put them between windows and curtains since oftentimes water accumulates thereafter a heavy rainfall. Be careful with any plants that are very large, however, since they could damage your floor or foundation if you have them right up against the wall.
5) Fix any cracks in the walls or foundation of your home: If you see anything that looks like it could be a crack in the walls or floors of your home, don’t try to cover it up with some paint. Even if it’s not something obvious, make sure to check for leaks on each wall and around every door frame. You might find out you have some behind furniture or along baseboards that can easily go unnoticed until there’s already significant damage completed.
6) Sand down rough surfaces before painting: This one may sound like it’s for painters but if you want to avoid future water damage, it’s essential. Water can collect in crevices that are flat or smooth because the surface isn’t rough enough to allow the water molecules to escape. If however, there are large grooves in your wall where paint has chipped off, you should actually fix those areas before painting over them so they don’t trap any more moisture than necessary.
7) Don’t walk on wet surfaces: Even if you just washed your floors or had a light rain come through, stay off of them until they’re dry so mold doesn’t have a chance to grow. Once allowed, mold can actually start growing within 24 hours. Since most types of mold require moisture and food to survive, the best thing to do is take preventative measures to make sure you don’t have any standing water for them to feed off of.
Conclusion paragraph:
We understand that water damage can be a costly burden for homeowners to deal with, not only because of the repairs but also due to insurance and other expenses. Fortunately, if you catch it early enough there are some steps you can take to prevent future problems from happening. Here’s what we recommend: -Regularly check your gutters and downspouts for clogs or leaks; make sure they drain properly-Test your home’s sump pump monthly (or more often in rainy months); don’t let it overflow!-Keep an eye on your roofing materials such as shingles or tiles; get slab leaks repaired before anything happens.
Author Bio:- Laura Harnes
Laura is a marketing manager at All Star Plumbing & Restoration. With years of experience in the plumbing industry, she loves to create awareness about the causes, problems, and repair solutions of water damage and slab leak. She shares expert tips to lower utility bills and keep your AC, heater, and other appliances in optimum condition leading to longer lifespan.
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