Tips to Help Prevent Water Damage

  • Makes sure all connection lines (including the drain lines) to ice makers, disposals, dishwasher, and any other appliance that uses water are all secure.
  • Leave at least four inches between the water connection and the back of the washing machine. This space will help reduce the chances of a kink in the line.
  • Make sure everyone in your household knows where the main shutoff to the house is and how to open and close it
  • Shut off water to the home if you plan on being away from the home for several days or longer.
  • In bathrooms, check caulking at joints where the wall meets the shower or bathtub.  If you find cracks, discoloration or voids, clean and remove any loose material and apply new sealant.
  • If your home has a sump pump system to assist in the keeping water out of your home, a battery backup is a great investment to help when the power fails.
  • If you are not in your basement a lot, look into getting an alarm that will go off if your sump pump is to fail.
  • Keep the toilet lid closed if you have articles on the tank. Toilets are often accidentally clogged by foreign objects. These objects can lodge deep in the plumbing system and block lines.
  • Check your water heater regularly. Leaks often occur before a big blow out. Wet spots may indicate that a seal is leaking or the tank itself is deteriorating.
  • Makes sure to disconnect garden hoses and shut off exterior faucets.
  • When storing items in the basement place them in a watertight container or on shelves off the floor.
  • Keep your roof clear of snow. This helps prevent ice dams and clogged roof vents that can cause condensation build up in your attic.
  • When it is raining out, make sure that the down spouts from the gutters are pushing water away from your house not right next to the foundation.
  • If you are to get water damage in your home, you should get everything dried out within 48-72 hours to prevent mold growth.
  • You should inspect your gutter capacity after 15mins of heavy rain. If water overflows the gutters, you may need to look at installing additional downspouts to help move water away from the house.

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