It may come as a surprise for many, but water damage is the most common damage that a house sustains. There can be a number of causes for such messy damage; from old, worn-out appliances and cracked pipes to leaky roofs. Water damage repair can be an unexpected and unsolicited expense that could set your bank balance back by $2,700 on average. Therefore, it is best that you take the necessary precautions and preventive measures to avoid a messy and potentially costly disaster. Below are some useful tips that will serve as a basic guide to water damage prevention.
Know Where the Main Water Supply is Located
It is absolutely essential that you know the basics of the plumbing system in your house. A water pipe could burst out of nowhere and take you by surprise. What do you do in such a situation? Shutting off the main water supply valve is what you do first thing in such a scenario. It is, therefore, necessary that you are well aware of its location as that will curtail the costly water damage. You should inform all your family members of the location of the main water supply and train them to shut it off on time in case a pipe breaks. Of course, the other important thing to do is to promptly call STOP Restoration and acquiring cleanup and restoration services as soon as possible.
Keep an Eye on the Appliances
Keep your appliances well maintained, so they don’t cause a costly episode of water damage. Water heaters and washing machines are the appliances that have the most potential for water damage. It is a good idea to replace your washing machine hoses every five years at least and carry out timely maintenance of the water heater.
Washing machine-related water damage can cost you thousands of dollars in repairs; so take precautionary measures such as replacing rubber hoses with the steel braided ones and turning off the water supply to it whenever you’re going away.
Clean the Gutters
The long narrow tubes that run along your roof collect rainwater and drain it away from the foundations of your home. These gutters can, at times, get clogged as they collect debris and garbage. This will cause the water to leak through the roof or spill into the foundation. It is, therefore, a good practice to have the gutters regularly cleaned (at least twice a year).
Keep an Eye on the Water Meter
Leaks may not always be as imminent as the one from your faucet. It is often long before the leaks from the pipe are identified as the pipes are buried behind the walls or under the floors. Therefore, it is important that you keep a close eye on your water meter. You can do so by turning off all the water outlets and then closely monitoring the water meter to catch a change in the reading - if there’s any. An unusually high water bill could also be a sign that there is a leak somewhere.
Follow the above basic guidelines to prevent water damage to the best of your ability. If you ever require any water damage restoration services in Fort Worth, Texas, or in the adjoining areas such as Arlington, Benbrook or Burleson, give STOP Restoration a call on 682-703-0213 and acquire our professional services.
