Water damage is something that most homeowners want to avoid at all costs. Water is only designed to be managed within the building construction in supply pipes, drain pipes, sinks, and basins. Water should never be allowed to accumulate in crawl spaces, basements, floors, or walls. The good news is that simple fixes can save you from small water damage to serious water damage that requires costly professional work.
Steps to Take To Avoid Water Damage
You can recover from water leaks and file a flood restoration process insurance claim, but you might be able to avert the whole mess with a few simple steps.
Ensure proper drainage.
Poor drainage weakens your foundation, generating fractures, uneven settling, and water entry points. Regularly clean your gutters. A clogged gutter may cause water to cascade down the side of your property, causing damage to the siding and foundation.
Check that your downspouts are directing water 1.5 to 3 meters away from your house. Ensure your yard slopes at least 15.24 centimeters away from your foundation over a 3-meter span. This slope prevents water from entering your foundation, where it could cause walls to lean, damage the masonry, and cause leaks.
Keeping water away from crawl spaces ensures that excess water does not collect beneath your floor, resulting in damp conditions that foster mildew, rot, and insects.
Take care of the downspouts.
Downspouts convey gutter water down the side of a house. A straightforward idea that works wonderfully. On the other hand, downspouts that end perpendicular to the ground risk pushing the water flow alongside your home’s foundation.
Rainwater pushed at such high rates erodes the soil around the house and can leak into the house through the foundation, causing serious damage. To confirm that the downspouts are flowing, run water through the gutters. If needed, add a 90-degree downspout elbow and a downspout extension to move water at least 61 cm away from home.
Check for and repair any water leaks.
Leaks can cause mold and mildew, decay, and, in certain situations, termites and carpenter ants (they like chewing on soft, soggy wood). However, repairing a leak as soon as it occurs increases the likelihood of avoiding long-term damage.
Examine for leaks by looking for dark patches under pipes within sink cupboards, stains on ceilings, rocking toilets and drips. Annually inspect your roof and replace any missing, loose, or damaged shingles. Check for leaks around flashing and repair any cracked caulking.
Repair any damaged or missing caulking.
Cracks must be filled up in any water and fire damage remediation process. Inside, search for evidence of water damage such as mildew, bubbling paint, crumbling drywall or plaster, and termite activity.
When the weather is nice, walk outside your house looking for cracked or missing caulk. Pay careful attention to the top of the window casing, which can collect water. Once you’ve found the issue, take the time to caulk any cracked or missing caulk on the inside and outside of the house.
Examine the roof.
Your home will sustain water damage if it lacks a weather-tight roof. Roof systems will leak in ways that damage your home’s condition, even if there is no catastrophic roof collapse. Set a ladder against your house and inspect and replace shingles before bad weather arrives.
Keep an eye out for overgrown moss that can grow beneath the shingles and any damage from fallen tree limbs. Get on the roof and look for loose, damaged, missing, or cracked shingles. Please carry out this duty responsibly and in good weather.
When should you get assistance from professionals?
If water leaks inside despite your efforts, call water damage emergency services. They’ll tackle the situation quickly and efficiently and give you ideas on how to leak-proof your property.
Conclusion
Follow these steps to mitigate the effects of a flood or leak. Any delay raises the likelihood of mold damage in addition to water damage. Water damage repair is a major undertaking, but it must be done correctly. With these tips, you should be able to avoid water damage.