Water damage can strike from any places. We suggest to take a moment and review the information below to be better informed and to reduce the need for water damage restoration from water or flood damage. 1. Know where your water shutoff valves are. If the hot water tank or a pipe should develop a leak, the first thing you'll need to do is to stop the flow of the water. Knowing in advance where the valves are will make the job that much faster. Make certain other family members know their location as well.
2. Regularly
check hoses and other connections to appliances that use water. Washers, dishwashers and icemakers all have
hoses that can become cracked and develop a leak. Make certain that all hoses are securely
connected.
3. Look
around the water heater for puddles or damp spots. On average, a hot water heater will last from
7 to 12 years. If yours is near the end of its life span it
may be time to have it replaced.
4. Taking showers, cooking and running the
dishwasher all create moisture in the home.
While it may not seem like a lot, the repeated condensation can cause
damage over time. Install kitchen and bath vents if you don't have them. If you do make sure they are operating
properly. Check to see that the dryer
vent flap on the outside of the house is working properly.
5. Check
the plumbing under the kitchen sink and in the bathroom. These are areas that are prone to small leaks
either from the sink drain, trap joints or around the faucets. These are also common areas where many homes
need repairs due to rot.
6. Inspect
the roof for missing or broken shingles and dry, cracked caulk around flashing. These are areas where water can enter a
house. In winter the thawing and
freezing of ice and snow can allow water to work it's way into the wood
structure of the roof. If the problem
goes unnoticed for a long time it could cause large areas of rot.
7. Clean
gutters regularly and make sure they are in good repair. When gutters are working properly they direct
water away from the house and prevent it from seeping into the foundation.
8. If you have water in the basement in the
spring or after a heavy rain, you should find out why. Check
the grade of the soil around the house.
It should slope away from the foundation. If the walls of the basement are damp there
may be a problem with the foundation's moisture barrier.
9. Take
extra steps in the winter to keep water pipes from freezing. Keep temperatures high enough so pipes in the
wall don't freeze. Wrap pipes that are
in un-insulated areas and use thermostatically controlled heat tape to prevent
freezing. Follow manufacturer's
instructions for safe installation.
10. Prevent
fires which can lead to water damage.
Have your heating equipment, fireplace and chimney inspected
regularly. Install smoke detectors and
keep fire extinguishers handy.
Contact Servicemaster of Prescott and we can help you to address the issues or to clean them when they happen... Contact us today!
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