Water damage is a widespread problem for homeowners. 1 in 50 insured homes are impacted by water damage every single year according to the Insurance Information Institute. That’s an astounding number of homes when you draw that out over the entire country. We’ll explain the most common causes of this damage and how you can avoid it.
Broken Pipes and Leaks
Water is constantly brought into your home through your pipes. Unfortunately, damage to those pipes causes water to spill into vulnerable areas of our home.
Water damage can happen from even the slowest leaks. Slow leaks can be some of the most dangerous. Water can accumulate over months and cause massive damage, especially if they are located within your foundation. We call these leaks, slab leaks.
It’s vital that you recognize a slab leak before it causes a lot of damage. Signs of a slab leak include warm or hot spots on your floor from the water pooling under the house. Hearing the noise of flowing water is another common sign. There is only one way to ensure that you don’t have a slow leak in your home.
To test if your home has a small leak, turn off all water fixtures in your house and go to your water meter. It’s most likely in front of your home. Open it up and take a look inside. If the display is digital you will see flashing numbers every few seconds. Since no water is flowing to your house, this number should be zero. If the display reads any other number then that means water is flowing into your home via a leak.
Hot Water Tanks
Your hot water tank is likely your most used water appliance. Your storage tank probably holds over 50 gallons of water at any given time. If your water heater fails, that’s a lot of water to potentially leak. It’s important to inspect your water heater from time to time.
If you notice puddles building up you might have a leak. Dry the area and come back in an hour or two to see if a new puddle has formed. If you see that the puddle has returned, you know that there is a definitive leak.
From there the next step is to turn off your water heater and your water supply. Doing one and not the other is not adequate.
From there we need to determine the location of the leak. Areas where pipes connect are the most common. If there is an obvious misalignment you may just need to tighten the connection up. If it’s difficult to find an obvious source of the leak, it might be an internal problem. In this case, you’ll want to find a professional who can help you out.
Weather
Even if you have the most well-maintained plumbing system, you are not safe from potential water damage. Weather causes damage to homes all the time. When rain, flooding, and hail hit your home they cause some of the most expensive claims.
Basements can be especially vulnerable. Statistically, if you have a basement it will be impacted by water damage at some point during its lifetime. You’ll need adequate planning to prevent flooding from being too bad.
On the other side of the house, your roof can be hit by water damage too. Common signs are spots on your ceiling, parts of your shingles filling the gutters, and cracked shingles. Many homeowners forget about their roof and assume that it’s indestructible. While your roof is designed to brave the elements, it can be damaged by weather.
If your roof has sustained weather damage, call the experts at Painter Roofing & Construction at (888) 491-8543 or fill out an online contact form!
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