Water Damage is not something that a home owner wants to be
familiar with, and yet for many, I'm afraid that it is a dreaded
reality. The basic maintenance to keep a house up and in good condition
can be hard enough on your schedule and your wallet, but when you throw
in something unexpected like an issue with water damage popping up out
of nowhere, then your world is going to be turned completely upside
down. Preparing for the unexpected can be done by becoming more
knowledgeable of possible threats, so I'm going to take this opportunity
to share with you what the three most familiar water damage issues are
for the home owner today.
The roof can be your home's best friend or it's worst enemy, depending on whether it has holes in it or not. The problem with most major issues that stem from leaks in the roof is that they build up over a period of time and you don't realize that there is a problem until quite a bit of damage has already taken place. A fact that you need to realize is that many times you cannot tell that roof damage is present by simply looking up at the roof from outside. Just because shingles are in place and all are accounted for does not mean that water cannot get in. There are other issues to consider. Your gutters can fill up with debris such as leaves and cause rain water to seep into the side of your roof when backed up. The items on your roof that stick out are sealed by pieces of rubber that can deteriorate over time. It would be good for you to make a habit out of occasionally going into the attic when it rains and inspecting the roof from the inside to ensure that there are no water leaks present.
Another thing to pay close attention to will be the basement or crawlspace under your house. This is the part of your home that is located closest to the ground, which is where rain water is going to eventually drain to. It only makes sense that without proper preventative measures being taken, issues related with water damage will soon develop. The foundation of your home should never have water resting up against it, and this can be prevented by utilizing a good gutter system that empties by way of downspouts that are turned away from the home. The use of splash blocks are a good idea to assist in routing the water away from the home, rather than saturating the ground next to the foundation. If you have a crawlspace, be sure that the earth located directly underneath the house is completely covered with plastic. This will prevent moisture from coming out of the ground and lingering in the air. If you have a basement, you need to go along the walls and floor and ensure that there are no cracks allowing water to leak through. Your best plan of action here is to fill any cracks that are present and then use a good sealer that will not allow water to penetrate the concrete. If you have done all you can do and water still proceeds to invade your crawlspace or basement, the use of a good pump that will turn itself on when water is detected is a must. This process will remove water out of the area as it arrives to avoid the water settling and creating damage.
The last familiar issue to the world of water damage is your plumbing. This is probably the most common area that water damage comes from in most homes. Over time, everything that makes up your plumbing system from faucets to pipes and fittings is going to wear down and will require maintenance or replacement. The best way to avoid this problem is to routinely inspect the pipes and fittings for anything that has come loose and possibly even started to drip. It is also a good idea to occasionally replace the washers or other types of seals that may be present in all of your faucets. This will prevent slow drips from starting, which will help you to avoid a large problem that could stem off of a small one very quickly. Get familiar with these common problems that are related to water damage in the home so that you are better equipped to prevent them from happening in your home.
The roof can be your home's best friend or it's worst enemy, depending on whether it has holes in it or not. The problem with most major issues that stem from leaks in the roof is that they build up over a period of time and you don't realize that there is a problem until quite a bit of damage has already taken place. A fact that you need to realize is that many times you cannot tell that roof damage is present by simply looking up at the roof from outside. Just because shingles are in place and all are accounted for does not mean that water cannot get in. There are other issues to consider. Your gutters can fill up with debris such as leaves and cause rain water to seep into the side of your roof when backed up. The items on your roof that stick out are sealed by pieces of rubber that can deteriorate over time. It would be good for you to make a habit out of occasionally going into the attic when it rains and inspecting the roof from the inside to ensure that there are no water leaks present.
Another thing to pay close attention to will be the basement or crawlspace under your house. This is the part of your home that is located closest to the ground, which is where rain water is going to eventually drain to. It only makes sense that without proper preventative measures being taken, issues related with water damage will soon develop. The foundation of your home should never have water resting up against it, and this can be prevented by utilizing a good gutter system that empties by way of downspouts that are turned away from the home. The use of splash blocks are a good idea to assist in routing the water away from the home, rather than saturating the ground next to the foundation. If you have a crawlspace, be sure that the earth located directly underneath the house is completely covered with plastic. This will prevent moisture from coming out of the ground and lingering in the air. If you have a basement, you need to go along the walls and floor and ensure that there are no cracks allowing water to leak through. Your best plan of action here is to fill any cracks that are present and then use a good sealer that will not allow water to penetrate the concrete. If you have done all you can do and water still proceeds to invade your crawlspace or basement, the use of a good pump that will turn itself on when water is detected is a must. This process will remove water out of the area as it arrives to avoid the water settling and creating damage.
The last familiar issue to the world of water damage is your plumbing. This is probably the most common area that water damage comes from in most homes. Over time, everything that makes up your plumbing system from faucets to pipes and fittings is going to wear down and will require maintenance or replacement. The best way to avoid this problem is to routinely inspect the pipes and fittings for anything that has come loose and possibly even started to drip. It is also a good idea to occasionally replace the washers or other types of seals that may be present in all of your faucets. This will prevent slow drips from starting, which will help you to avoid a large problem that could stem off of a small one very quickly. Get familiar with these common problems that are related to water damage in the home so that you are better equipped to prevent them from happening in your home.
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