Tips to Prevent Water Damage at Home

You’ve all experienced water damage at home some time or the other, and most times it’s usually more than a leaky faucet or a puddle of water on the floor. Water damage if left untreated can cause mold, fungus, structural problems, and even damage the wiring, cause stains, and more. Instead of waiting for the inevitable to happen why not take action into your own hands and use preventative measures to ensure that water damage does not happen. This will not only be cheaper but more convenient than replacing your walls or floor and it can keep all your systems working in a good condition for years to come.

1. Use a plastic bin

Heavy-duty plastic bins offer optimal protection as well as prevent water damage. You can either get waterproof bins or bags to put inside these bins to ensure that condensation does not build up. Place the bin in a climate-controlled environment where it isn’t too hot or cold along with a bag of silica gel to absorb excess moisture. Most plastic bins you get nowadays are air-tight and waterproof and ensure that water does not seep through.

2. Be careful where you plant trees

Plant and tree roots can burrow deep into the ground into underground pipes, tanks, and even sprinkler lines to find water. Before planting any large trees always do a bit of research on how deep the roots go. Ignoring this can lead to foundation damage as well as a host of other problems including water damage. Trees like willow, oak, magnolia, poplar, citrus, and birch as well as some types of shrubs, bushes, and climbing varieties could lead to issues, if you are still planning on using these trees, measure your property properly and ensure the tree is planted a good distance away.

3. Add home water sensors

Along with waterproof plastic dustbin, other home machines have a manual valve that allows you to automatically turn off the water supply when not in use or if the water level is full. Using this can give you peace of mind in case you forget to turn it off and smart sensors can be used for electricity as well to save you a lot of costs. In addition to detecting the presence of water, many sensors also detect temperature and moisture levels – especially if you live in an area where there is a possibility of your pipes freezing.

4. Install an underground water tank

Basements or lower levels are the first to flood when a big storm hits or if you live in a rainy climate location. An underground pump helps stop the water level from rising back to the outside so your house stays dry.

5. Look after your pipes

Homeowners don’t usually look after their plumbing system until it stops working or fails. A few tips to consider here are to use a drain cleaner instead of chemicals to unclog your sink. Not only is this cleaner and easier but it saves your pipes from corroding with too many chemicals. Always dispose of grease and oil separately and not down your drain as this ends up congealing, hardening, and affecting your pipes. On cold nights, set the thermostat to 60 degrees and open your under-the-skin cabinet doors to allow warm air to circulate and prevent pipes from freezing.

In Conclusion

Early detection and prevention can help keep water damage to a minimum and help you save on cost, time, and effort. Have monthly inspections and check your pipes, property every couple of weeks just to ensure that your equipment is working properly. Anything with water can lead to a potential leak, be it sinks, bathtubs, toilets, showers, dishwasher, washing machine, and even your ice maker. Examining the fixtures and checking their warranty dates including the surrounding walls, ceilings, and rooms, for mold, fungus, leaks, cracks, moisture droplets and more can help you detect any issues early on which in turn can put you in front of the game. The sooner you see the problem and fix it, the less damage you will have to concur, and you can get a professional to take a look at it and maybe still salvage it.