Water Damage Prevention Tips: How to Avoid Water in Your Home or Business
Water damage can be a costly and devastating event, not just for your home or business, but also for the environment. Water damage can cause long-lasting consequences especially if you don't take the proper precautions.
When you ignore water damage, it compromises the structural integrity of your home and promotes toxic mold growth. This can threaten not only the health and safety of yourself but those living under your roof as well!
In this blog post, you will learn how to prevent water from entering your property so you don't have to worry about paying high prices for repairs or even worse - ruining all of your belongings!
See Also - The Ultimate Guide To Water Damage Restoration
What Causes Water Damage?
Water damage can be caused by a variety of factors, but the most common culprits are:
- Leaking roofs
- Clogged gutters or downspouts that lead to roof overflows.
- Broken water pipes and appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines, etc. (which may overflow if not properly maintained).
- Other structural issues can lead to water damage. For example, mold growth caused by flooding or a lack of ventilation in your home.
What Type of Problems Can Water Damage Cause?
Water damage has very serious long term effects and consequences including:
- Toxic Black Mold Growth - This is one of the most dangerous and common water damage problems.
- Structural Damage - Water can destroy the integrity of your home, particularly if it's not dealt with in time. For example, flooring that is warped or rotted away due to water damage such as floodwaters.
- Air Quality Concerns - Mold growth caused by a lack of ventilation and air circulation can cause respiratory problems and other health complications.
- High Costs - Water damage repairs are very costly, especially if you don't have the proper insurance coverage in place or if your deductible is too high. This includes additional labor costs from contractors as well as the cost of new materials to restore water-damaged areas such as flooring, drywall, wallpaper, etc.
How To Prevent Water Damage In Your Home Or Business
Water damage is a serious problem for your home and business that should not be ignored!
Fortunately, there are several things you can do outside of the home to prevent water from entering your property including:
Repair leaky roofs
Make sure roofs don't have any holes or leaking issues. Check for cracks or missing shingles. Your roof is your first line of defense against water damage, so make sure it's in good working order.
A water damage inspection can help you identify any problems and potential issues with your roof to prevent future water accumulations in your home or business.
Clean gutters and downspouts
Make sure that the guttering system is free of leaves, sticks, trash, etc... so it doesn't clog or overflow.
Ensure gutters are draining water away from your home and not allowing any pools of water to accumulate near your home's foundation. Don't forget about downspouts too, they should be directed at least five feet away from doors, windows, and other areas prone to flooding!
Use flood barriers in vulnerable areas
If you live in an area prone to flooding, use flood barriers. For example, you could place large heavy objects such as boulders or sandbags around vulnerable parts of your home and even under doors that lead outside to prevent water from entering into the structure during periods of serious weather events like hurricanes.
Don't ignore small leaks
Even if it's just a slow drip coming from the faucet, don't ignore it. Fix any leaky appliances or fixtures as soon as possible to prevent water damage in your home.
Maintain Appliances
Properly maintain appliances and fixtures in your home so they don't malfunction or break down leading to water damage. For example, never overload a washing machine or dishwasher as this can lead to severe problems including appliance malfunctions that cause overflows.
Lower Humidity Levels
Keep an eye on humidity levels inside of your home too! Maintaining a humidity level between 30-50% can help prevent mold growth. You can keep humidity levels low with an air conditioner during the summer or a dehumidifier all year round.
Avoid standing water
Don't allow any areas of your home to become flooded with stagnant water including:
- Basements or Attics - Never use a basement for storage and always clean up immediately after flooding.
- Bathrooms - Don't leave showers running, take baths instead when possible. Ensure that toilets are sealed tightly so they don't overflow.
- Kitchen - Keep the kitchen clean after cooking and before washing dishes, always keep a wet/dry vacuum on hand to deal with water spills quickly. Don's use large amounts of water when doing dishes by hand or using the dishwasher that could lead to overflows in your home.
Don't Let Ice Dams Grow On
Ice dams are caused when snow buildup on your roof melts due to the warmth of your home and then refreezes at the edge of your roof closest to the cold outside air.
Ice builds up along this edge which prevents water from draining off properly leading to leaks inside walls, ceilings, or floors eventually causing water damage in your property.
Don't use basements for storage!
Never use a basement for storage and always clean up immediately after flooding. Place flood barriers around vulnerable areas of your home.
Sump pumps
Inspect your sump pump regularly and clean it if you have a dirty/clogged one. Ensure that all the outlets are clear of any debris so they can do their job effectively. This will make sure that your sump pump has the power to remove water from your home or business.
Maintain good ventilation inside of homes
Make sure your home has proper air circulation and ventilation to help prevent mold growth. Ventilation can be as simple as opening windows, doors or using a fan in the bathroom after showering!
Prevention is key when it comes to water damage issues like flooding and leaks inside of your home or business. It's always better to take precautions before an incident happens instead of trying to deal
In general, make sure you are checking for leaks regularly if there are any issues with appliances or water pipes.
Having these simple procedures in place will help you avoid costly repairs and protect your home and the health of your family as well! In addition, if there is ever a flood you can rest assured knowing that your property was protected by taking preventative measures beforehand.
The information provided here should not be considered complete. There are many variables in water damage that can cause different types of problems. Make sure you consult with a licensed mitigation professional to determine the best course of action for your particular situation.
See Also - What To Do Immediately After Discovering Water Damage
Wrap Up - Water Damage Prevention Tips
Water damage is a very serious problem that should not be ignored! Fortunately, there are several things you can do outside of the home to prevent water from entering your property including making sure roofs don't have any holes or leaking issues and keeping rain gutters and downspouts free of debris so water can flow away from your home properly.
If you've noticed any signs of mold or water damage, shut off the water supply and contact a water damage restoration company for water mitigation and if necessary, property repair.
The restoration specialists at Mold Removal Calgary are experts in water damage mitigation. If you're experiencing water problems in your house or business, contact us today for a fast and effective solution to restore the structural integrity of your property and protect your home from water damage!