Proper maintenance and regular repairs can keep your home safe from water damages. Besides natural disasters like floods and hurricanes, water damages may occur due to various other factors like leaking pipes, unclean gutters and defective drainage systems among others. Some simple yet effective tips can help you prevent major damage to your property and appliances because of such issues. Let’s shed some light on them.
Clean the roof gutters
After a heavy storm, you may find your gutter stuffed with dead leaves, bird’s nests and the likes, rendering it incapable of channelling water outside the premises. The water can then flow into your home’s foundation wall, the basement or your appliances, causing major damage.
You should consult experienced professionals e.g. the Renovco water damage restoration experts to clean the gutter and ensure proper water flow away from the house. In the aftermath of a natural disaster, water is one of the primary causes of property damage, and steps should be taken to minimize it.
Inspect your appliances from time to time
According to the manufacturer’s guidelines, you should check your appliances every month for probable leaks and water damages. You should also opt for tankless water heaters, if possible, to reduce the chances of damage, as well as cut down your water bills.
Plan before planting trees
Some trees have expanded root system that extends to a distance of about 20 feet, penetrating water pipes, sprinkler system, drainage, etc, and leading to irreparable damages. Prevent such conditions by doing some research on the trees with larger roots. If possible, plant them at a distance of 20+ feet away from the water lines or opt for smaller species that can be easily maintained.
Know where your water mains are located
It’s quite surprising, but many homeowners aren’t aware of the location of their water mains. Even if you maintain your drainage system and keep your pipes in good condition, you can never prevent uncontrollable situations like pipe bursts or a natural disaster. Shutting off the water mains is the only way to prevent further damage in these cases, so you need to know where they are located.
Inspect your sump pumps
It’s better to check your sump pumps before the storm season and get it repaired, if necessary. This will prevent major water damage to your property during a heavy storm. Make sure there’s no debris in the sump pump to prevent clogging. When switched on, the pump should give out a humming sound, which will confirm that it’s functioning properly.
Despite the aforementioned precautions, it may not be possible to prevent water damages during natural disasters. Get in touch with professional water damage restoration experts to help in such cases.
