Take a Tour: Water Damage Risk

MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2020

Water damage at home does not only happen during floods, excessive rainfall, and storms. Leaks, lack of proper home planning and poor maintenance practice also can cause water damage.  Some water damage is preventable, and some isn't. With a little preparation and attention, you can avoid many causes of water damage.

Let's take a tour around your home and see what areas require special attention.

Look Up: The Roof

A roof is only as protective as its biggest hole or largest area of missing roof shingles. If rainwater can get in, your home may suffer water damage and mold growth whenever it rains or the snow melts after a snowstorm.

Rain gutters collect water as it runs off the edge of the roof and safely direct it away from your home. Otherwise you would have a waterfall off your roof! Unfortunately, these narrow channels can become easily blocked by debris, such as leaves in the fall. When this happens, rain can cause significant water damage to your home, as the gutters overflow and water enters through window frames and into the walls. To prevent this from happening, make sure to have your gutters cleaned out twice a year.

Look Down: The Foundation

Your property is also susceptible to water damage from below the ground. When it was constructed, the outside of the foundation likely was treated with tar and may be even covered with a dimpled membrane. A dimpled membrane is wrapped around the outside of the foundation, so most of it is buried underground. It is designed in such a way that if groundwater comes through, it hits the membrane and wicks it away from the house as opposed to going through the membrane and permeating your foundation.

So what's the problem? A dimpled membrane is not waterproof on its own, and the tar underneath can dry out over the years and lose its ability to keep water out of the basement. If your home is an older property, it may be more susceptible to water damage for this reason.

There are systems you may already have installed around your house for extra drainage to direct water away from the foundation from underground. These include a weeping tile system, as well as a catch basin. The weeping tile is installed around the perimeter of the house and connects to the sewers directly, where it deposits the water.

Look Around: The Yard

The land surrounding your structure has a direct effect on how water flows away from your home. In fact, the construction of your neighborhood had to include plans for how water would flow from property to property, and the land was sloped specifically to facilitate this. Over time, dirt can sink down and change how the water is flowing and cause water to head towards your home instead of away from it. To fix this, you may need to consult with a landscaper, who may be restricted in what can be changed, because your changes may affect other properties.

Besides the ground, trees and shrubs can cause water damage to your house. As they grow, their roots can damage pipes underground if they are in the same area. If you are planning new plantings, knowing the type of plant and how it grows and paying attention to where you are planting them will prevent this. If you must plant trees with adventitious roots, you need to estimate their distance from pipes and sprinklers.

Your yard may also have water directly running through it with a sprinkler system. From time to time, you should have a professional blow out the sprinkler system. This will help prevent unwanted water intrusions and breakage in your home. To do this by yourself, first, turn off the water, then drain away every single drop of water in the system. With an air compressor blow it out completely until mists in the sprinkler completely turn to air.

Look Inside: Pipes and Appliances

Inside your home, the plumbing and drainage systems are designed to safely bring water in and out in a contained and safe way. Blocked home drainage means that the wastewater has nowhere to go and will back up into your home where it doesn't belong. This is one of the commonest causes of water damage in a house. A bad drainage system can cause flooding by itself without heavy storms or rainfall.

Besides drainage, your home can be susceptible to leaks from appliance cables and pipes. A slow leak can go undetected for quite some time, causing water damage and mold growth under your nose. Investing in home maintenance is the best way to detect these leaks. Pay attention to an unexplained increase in your water bill, also. The sooner you fix them, the safer your home is from extensive water damage and flooding. What is a small leak today can easily become a flooded family room tomorrow.

Even if your pipes and hoses are in great shape, there is a hidden danger that can lead to water damage down the road. Very high water pressure in your home can damage the pipes. This is because most hoses and pipes are not designed to deal with certain water pressure. The best way to avoid this is by paying attention to the water pressure level. You can purchase a water gauge for this purpose. The normal pound per pressure inch for a home pipe should be between 40 to 70.

Look Ahead: Planning for Vacations and Other Absences

If you are going to leave your home unoccupied for a number of days, whether for a business trip or a vacation, get a friend, relative, or neighbor to check in on your property while you are away. If you will be away for an extended period in the winter it is wise to invest in a home management company. Have a professional come in and winterize your home. This service will keep the pipes and hoses in their best state so that you won't return to water damage.

About Us

At Flood Damage Pro, we are dedicated to making your home safe and clean again after flood damage. We will help you with water damage restoration and recovering your property. We will also provide you with expert advice and recommendations on how to go about preventing water damage in the future. Not all water damage is preventable, but a little thought and attention goes a long way.

If your property has sustained water damage, call us today. Your home safety is paramount to us. Let us restore your home for you and your loved ones as well as your peace of mind.

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