5 Tips You Can Use to Help Prevent Water Damage

Water damage can come from many different causes. Mother Nature can certainly give us issues with flooding or water leaks, but there are also many other things in your home or business that could lead to water leaving behind residual damages. Think of things like leaky pipes, burst pipes, leaky appliances, and more. All of these can cause damage that leaves you trying to figure out what to do next! 

The good news is that there are things you can do to be proactive and try to prevent water damage from occurring. Will you be able to stop every situation? Probably not. But these 5 tips can certainly help reduce the likelihood of something happening in your home. 

1. Basement Pumps and Drains

Basements are one of the most susceptible locations for water damage. They are naturally vulnerable because of their placement beneath the surface levels. But while you do need to take steps to protect your basement, they aren’t meant to be wet or dank and damp. 

If you have cracks in the basement walls and floors, consider waterproofing the area. In addition, you should make sure you have appropriate waterproofing measures, such as a French drain or a sump pump to help move water away from the basement and your foundation. 

Don’t just let water come in and damage your home. It will eventually take its toll. Sump pumps are a classic choice, but you do have to maintain them for them to work properly. Take steps to protect the basement and your home. 

2. Gutters and Downspouts

Guttering systems are designed to help collect water and then direct it away from your home. And they do a great job when they are set up to do so. But you also have some responsibility here to help your gutters and downspouts work properly for you. 

You’ve got to take the time to clean them out and inspect them a couple of times a year. You can also hire someone to help with this if you aren’t comfortable doing it yourself. Check out your downspouts and make sure they are positioned well to drain water away from your foundation and home. 

If the gutters are clogged or not working properly, this can commonly cause water damage. 

3. Protect Your Pipes

One of the most common causes of home flooding is burst pipes or pipe leaks that turn into something bigger. Be proactive in protecting your pipes and keep them properly maintained to help prevent water damage issues. 

Freezing weather can be very hard on pipes. If you’re able to, try insulating any pipes that are in exposed or vulnerable areas. Pipe insulation is easy to add on your own and is a reasonably affordable solution to protect them from colder weather. When it’s really cold, you can use heat tape and take other measures within your home as well. 

In addition to protecting pipes from cold weather, you want to make sure you’re taking care of your pipes and keeping them maintained. Repair leaks and known issues to avoid bursting and extensive water damage. 

4. Home Maintenance

Another common problem that leads to damage from water is home maintenance that is ignored or overlooked. When you know you have a leak or something that is letting water in, don’t ignore it. Be proactive about maintenance and checking for leaks as well. 

The roof is a common culprit for leaks. And it’s one of the most challenging to fix because you typically have to hire someone, and roof repair can be costly. But when you consider the costs of water (and possibly mold) damage from not making repairs, it’s much better to simply get repairs made. 

Other vulnerable areas in your home are around windows and doors. Your spaces may need to be sealed, so inspect them from time to time and take action as necessary. 

5. Know Your Protection Devices

Finally, one vital step to protecting your home is to have protective devices in place and be familiar with them. For example, you should have shut-off valves on major water areas that make it easy to quickly shut off water if something happens. Common places for shut-off valves include the hot water tank, bathrooms, and kitchens. You can have them in other areas as well. 

Some people choose to use water leak detection as an option. If nothing else, be familiar with your protection options and take action quickly when something does occur. 

Let ONEighty Solutions Help with Your Water Damage Needs

While being proactive can certainly prevent a lot of water damage possibilities, there are still unexpected scenarios that can happen and cause damage. When that happens, we’re here for you! ONEighty Solutions can be there quickly to help you mitigate and recover after damages occur. We’re here to help!