Water damage is truly a nightmare for every homeowner, whether from plumbing malfunctions or natural disasters. This is why it’s necessary to try and prevent water damage before it destroys your home and belongings. But the question is, how?

This post contains some proven prevention tips to stop water damage from occurring in the first place. Keep reading!

Keep a check on appliances

Natural disasters like rainstorms, floods, and hurricanes are not the only causes of water damage. In fact, many water appliances can also malfunction and leak, leading to severe structural and messy damage to your properties. Here are some common examples of those appliances and how to keep a check on them:

Water heaters: It is essential to regularly maintain and flush your water heaters to prevent mineral buildup, leaks, and tank explosions.

Washing machines: Loose connections on pipes, faulty tubes, and malfunctioning hoses can lead to major explosions and leaks inside washing machines.

Air conditioners: Clogs in the AC ducts can cause leaks inside the walls. These leaks can lead to structural damage and mold buildup. Therefore, regularly maintain, clean, and service your air conditioners to avoid malfunctions.

Clean drains and gutters

Clogged drains and gutters are the most common causes of water damage in households. Debris, leaves, and other items can clog the drains, leading to pipe leaks and bursts too. Every homeowner needs to contact a professional plumbing service after seeing the first signs of drain clogs.

Here are some preventive steps you can take to prevent drain and gutter clogs in the first place:

• Regularly clean the drains with a drain snake to remove leaves, debris, and other clogging items.
• Avoid pouring oily and greasy substances inside the drain.
• Install gutter guards to prevent clogging items from entering.
• Long-term clogs can lead to major pipe bursts. Therefore, try to install a pressure gauge to keep an eye on the water pressure and prevent major flooding from bursts.
• Try to install high-quality PEX pipes in your plumbing system. They are corrosion-resistant and excellent in preventing clogs.
• Avoid throwing cigarette filters, diapers, and other items in the drains.
• Regularly maintain your garbage disposal.

Maintain the sump pumps

Sump pumps are crucial for every home to avoid major water damage from flash floods and other natural disasters. They brilliantly pump the excess water from the basements and other areas of homes to prevent flooding. However, sump pumps can sometimes break down or malfunction due to negligence and low-maintenance.

Homeowners should keep a close check on the functionality of the sump pumps by filling them with water and see if the level is reducing or not. Also, ensure to service your sump pumps two times a year to ensure durability and perfect functionality.

Install dehumidifiers

Dehumidifiers are essential, especially if you live in an extremely humid environment. Humidity can trap inside the walls, ceiling, and furniture items, leading to mold, mildew, and fungus growth. Humidity and mold growth can also cause several respiratory issues like coughing and sinus congestion.

Though dehumidifiers can be a bit expensive, they are a great investment to prevent major costs from water damage in your house. They will excellently remove the excess moisture from the air, leaving your home fresh to breathe.

Prevent Frozen Pipes

Frozen pipes are very common in areas experiencing harsh winter and snowfall. The water in the pipes freezes, leading to major pipe bursts due to excess pressure. Frozen pipes can be very damaging to the home’s foundation, belongings, and residents.

Homeowners should take preventive measures to avoid frozen pipes as soon as winter and snow season starts. You can use heating pads, water heaters, and air dryers to prevent the pipes from freezing.

If frozen pipes occur even after the preventive measures, remember the issue will take work. It’s essential to contact a professional plumbing or water damage service asap before the pipe bursts and causes flooding inside the house.

Install Leak Detectors

Plumbing leaks are one of the most common causes of water damage and increased energy bills. Therefore, it’s essential to detect and repair the leaks. Since detecting leaks is tricky, installing leak detectors is the best option.

Water leak detectors are the most efficient, beneficial, and reasonably-priced devices every home should have. They alert you about the tiniest of leaks before they cause major trouble. You can install water leak detectors in the basements, bathrooms, kitchens, inside the plumbing systems, and other areas surrounding water and pipelines. You can also install them around fixtures and appliances like washing machines, water heaters, sinks, bathtubs, dishwashers, and refrigerators.

Take advantage of technology

Water damage prevention is now effortless with the help of technological advancement. Luckily, devices like smart water sensors can help automatically shut off water appliances and fixtures when not in use. Even if there’s a leak in the sinks, showers, or toilets, smart water sensors will help prevent water damage by shutting off the main water supply.

Maintain your home’s exterior and foundation

Your home’s exterior and foundation are the main elements helping prevent water damage from rain and floods. Therefore, keep an eye on possible cracks in windows, walls, and overall foundation and structure. If you see any cracks, get them fixed asap to prevent further costly damage.

Try and look for possible gaps in the doors and windows. Gaps allow water inside the house, leading to water damage, humidity, and mold or mildew growth.

Shut off the main water supply when away

Most people make the mistake of leaving their main water supply on while they are away from home. This is where they go wrong. Turning off the main water valve when leaving for trips or vacations is essential. Doing this will stop the water from flowing through your pipes, so even if there are any holes in the pipes, the water will not leak from there.

No one wants to come back from their trip and see their house flooded and their property destroyed by water damage. So, this step is vital.

Final words

Preventive measures are vital to avoid the disastrous effects of water damage in households. Even if you experience water damage from a minor plumbing or fixture leak, don’t wait and call emergency plumbing services as soon as possible.

At Lee’s Summit Restoration, our expert technicians will fix the problem before the water damage floods your home and destroys your belongings. We operate 24/7 for emergency water damage repair, restoration, and cleanup. Whether day or night, you can call and schedule an inspection anytime you want.