Water Damage Prevention

Water damage prevention will help eliminate many causes of water damage. There are many things you can do to help guard against having an unnecessary flood. Certainly, my guide can help you protect your property from many preventable water damage claims.

Hi, my name is Larry

When you use this information correctly it can prove to be very helpful to you, your family and friends. Because the information about water damage prevention. That I am giving you is based on real water mitigation, flood, smoke damage experience. It is free, and you are welcome to share my links. However, I do not grant permission to copy, transfer by any method except my links. To any social media, websites or other media, only for personal use.

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Water damage prevention

Starts with water shut off valves

Water damage prevention means you act now to correct any issues, and not wait to be flooded. Certainly do not wait to have a pipe burst and then try to find the shut off valves. Because every second counts towards preventing further damage. This should be at the top of your water damage prevention list.

Most importantly, when you move into a new home. Before you move your furniture in, get everyone in the household together, certainly include the children. Do a walk through, point out all water shut off valves including outside main, also the main power breaker box. If you have a well, the pump can be shut off at the power box if there is a leak. Everyone needs to know where water and power shut offs are in an emergency. Ok, you think I am crazy when I say include young children. Let me explain, you and your spouse are out, you have a baby sitter. The pipe breaks, the children can tell the sitter where the shut off valves are. This can save your home from a lot of damage.

Water Damage Prevention

Because valves after age, some times do not work, I recommend you test them on a regular basis before you need them.

FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH ALL YOUR WATER SHUT OFF VALVES BEFORE YOU HAVE A WATER LEAK

Basically, the following is a guide to help you find shut off valves, your home may be laid out different. Water damage prevention starts here at the main valve. Typically the property water main valve from the city or county is near the main street. Usually it is close to or on your property in front of the house. This would be where the water line connects to your homes plumbing. Many will have another valve where the pipes come into the house. Always try the main valve at the house first. For more details and help finding your water valves see turning off the water in an emergency

These main valves should be able to shut off all water entering the house. Each state, city and county may have a different layout. Check with your water provider on where there main water valve would be located.

Water Damage Prevention

Also most plumbing and appliances that use water will have a shut of valve of its own. When a fixture or appliance is leaking try turning off its valve first. Learn where they are, that is a good start to water damage prevention.

When you live in a condo, apartment building or a town house check with management for location of water shut off valve.

This is why you need to shut the water off as soon as possible

Because on the average, a broken one inch pipe left running fifteen minutes at normal pressure. Can result in 500-550+ gallons of extra water in your home. Of course volume of water depends on size of the hole, the PSI and length of pipe.

Water Damage Prevention

Water Damage Causes

Of course water can enter your home from many different sources. Roof leaks, plumbing and broken hoses are some of the most common. Water damage prevention talks about what to do to help prevent problems when possible.

Water Damage Prevention

What you can do to protect

Although you may have never been in a flood, you will need to know what to do. That is where this post water damage prevention comes in, I will teach you what to look for. I talk about changing hoses on appliances and other maintenance items in this post. Keep checking back as new post with photos and further details on these items will be add in the future.

Water Damage Prevention

Includes Roof and outside

You should have someone inspected your roof for any damage or needed repairs. Because any leaves or debris should be removed from the valley of the roof. It can cause water to back up under the shingles and leak. They should also check chimney for cracks and flashing damage. Don’t forget to check the cap. Another place to check on the roof, are any vents like dryer or bathroom vents. They need to be sealed at the bottom were they come out of the roof.

Another place to check is the gutters, they certainly need to be kept clean and free of leaves, downspouts have to be clear. Down spouts should direct the water away from the house at the bottom. You should make sure gutters are secured to wall and all joints are secure.

You certainly want to make sure all the land near the house is pitched away from the house. Therefore the water will run away from the home and not seep thru the walls. If the land slopes to the house it should be regraded. It maybe necessary to install a drain to carry the water away.

Water Damage Prevention

Branches over roof

Have a tree removal service cut and remove any branches hanging over your roof. Because they will shed leaves on the roof blocking the gutters also branches can break and damage the roof.

Water Damage Prevention

Check all outside pipes

You should also check all outside pipes, they need to be wrapped with insulation tape. Insulation tape, this can help protect them from freezing weather as this will cause them to burst. When you are in a freeze leave a tap slowly dripping. This allows some pressure to escape as ice forms in the line.

Carefully check your outside walls for any cracks or holes that could allow water in. Have someone repair any cracks or holes that you find.

You should have all windows and doors, checked from top to bottom for bad seals or calking. Have someone reseal and calk any dried out areas.

Roof vent

Because some roof vents have the slats spaced to far apart or on the wrong angle. Due to this reason rain in windy weather enters the attic and runs down on your ceiling.

Sprinkler tips

You should not allow your sprinklers to spray on your walls. You need to be aware, this can result in the water penetrating thru your walls. Sprinklers next to the house should have deflectors behind the sprinkler to prevent the water beating on the house.

Outside taps/spickets

While you should repair any leaking taps as they are wasting water. What you do not want, is a hose attached that has a bad rubber washer. This will tend to spray water back at the wall which can penetrate the wall flooding the house.

Inside the house

Washer hoses

Most certainly check and change washer hoses if necessary. If you have rubber hoses I highly recommend you change them even if they are new. Due to the fact they tend to burst as they age. You should only use stainless-steel covered hoses .

Toilet valves

You should also make an inspection of the toilet fill valves inside the toilet tank, look for rubber parts that are cracking. When is the last time you had them changed? Maybe it’s been awhile, if so you should change them. There are a few different styles, be sure to get the right one.

You should check the pipes or hoses behind the toilet, also check the valves at the same time.

Refrigerator ice maker hose

Another appliance you should check, is the refrigerator ice maker hose. You need to make sure it has a reinforced hose. When you are changing any hoses make sure the valves controlling them shuts off.

Dishwasher hose

While you are at it, check the dishwasher hose, this should be either pipe or reinforced hose. Always check hose for minor cracks or worn marks. Remember if there is a maybe its bad, change it. The damage a broken hose can cause is not worth saving a few dollars.

Don’t forget the pipes

Until now you have been concentrating on hoses but it is not just hoses that go bad. Pipes are another potential cause of flooding. Pipes can burst, corrode and even leak at the valves and joints.

Here are some areas that you can check the pipes and valves. Look under the sinks, maybe there in the back of the cabinet. Water marks on walls and other surfaces is a great tell tail of water damage.

Your utility tub is another area to check pipes for drips or any wet spots around joints.

You need to check any plumbing device hooked up to your water line even if not listed here.

Central Air Conditioner

Here is something you can easily miss. Did you know that an air conditioner can cause a lot of serious water damage? You need to have the drain pipe from the air conditioner cleaned and the drip pan checked for leaks.

Air conditioner water discharge See video

Depending where your unit is mounted, it can leak from the ceiling or the floor level. You will be shocked at how much water your air conditioner unit can put in your house.

Basement flooding

If you have a basement you certainly are aware of basement flooding problems. Have the pump checked to make sure it is working. To check it, you add enough water to make it turn on, not just turning it on to see if it runs. You need to make sure it is actually pumping water. For more detailed options on basement back up when no power check out Basement leak post

Septic System Backup Prevention

Septic system requires maintenance to prevent a septic water backup. The septic tank and drain field needs to have inspections and draining over time. For more information check Septic System Backup Prevention post.

Spare rooms

Finally you don’t want to forget any spare rooms where you may have stored extra personal items and furniture. Any valuable pieces of furniture or items of value should be raised off the floor a couple of inches.

Monthly safety check

Once a month you should turn off all things in your home that use water. Go to your Main water valve, it should have a gauge that reads the volume of water that you use. See top section of this post for more information about main valve. If you just used hot water, give the water heater about a minute to make sure it has filled back up. After you have turned off everything, there is no reason for the gauge to be moving unless there is a leak.

Personal items

You need to safely store your personal items, these are things most people don’t think about until they are damaged.

I will give you a list of things to protect, please feel free to add to this list any items that fall in this category.

Certainly secure all important papers for the whole family. Above all, a water proof container with a lock system is a must.

. Passports

. Birth certificates

. Drivers license

.Credit cards

You should start next with your home, life, medical insurance papers. Your deeds to any property and titles to vehicles. Then you want to put them in waterproof containers. When you have done that, find a safe place to secure the containers.

Preferably off the ground and tied down to prevent them from washing or blowing away in a storm. Remember even a sealed container sitting in water can have moisture form from condensation inside the container

Another important thing to remember is your photos. Your photos, especially of your children, contain many memories and without a proper back up system are lost for ever.

You want to do a similar thing with the photos as you did with your important papers. Sure you can save them electronically and store them in a sealed container. Due to the fact that electronics do not do well in moisture, you still may lose them. As water will naturally run to the lowest level, all boxes, bags etc.: should be raised off the floor.

Smart supplies to keep around

All the years of doing water damage work I have never had the opportunity to meet someone who was prepared for water in there home. Water leaks can happen at any time, and they do. You wake at 2 am to go to the bathroom and you find yourself standing in water. Now that is a true wake up call.

You can prevent a lot of damage by being prepared. Go out now and purchase these inexpensive items to keep on hand. Heavy duty Styrofoam blocks to put under furniture and other items. These blocks are stronger than the average Styrofoam. These you can buy at most janitorial stores. Next get a roll of heavy duty plastic covering and some of the very light plastic drop clothes. These items here are great to temporarily cover furniture if you have a roof leak. Plastic rolls and sheets can be found in most hardware stores.

Can you totally eliminate the risk of water damage?

While water damage prevention advice given here can eliminate many causes of water damage. There is no way to totally eliminate all causes. For example, pipes in the walls are not visible and maybe at risk of breakage. You certainly do not want to tear your walls down to check them.

Safety

Because your safety comes first, do not attempt to do anything mentioned here that you are not qualified to do. Do not attempt to lift heavy or awkward items by your self. Please do not attempt any electrical repairs or work if you are not qualified in this field.

Congratulations on completing your water damage prevention list

Check blog link for new post with more details and photos on some items mentioned as we fine tune the site. Thanks for visiting.

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