A Few Simple Ways To Prevent Water Damage In Your Home
When it comes to water damage prevention, you can go for the big ticket items like replacing your roof or your pipes. These big, more expensive steps are necessary at times. However, there are many cheaper, easier, and more accessible things you can do to keep water damage at bay. Here are nine of these simple steps from our water damage restoration experts at Faithful Cleaning in Billings, Montana.
Water Damage Cleanup in Billings
Maintain Sinks And Drains
A few simples steps will help you keep your sinks and drains in good shape. Regularly clean them, always put debris in the trash —not the drain, inspect your bathtub’s overflow drain, and check on drain taps regularly.
Regularly Maintain Your Appliances
Refrigerators, water heaters, AC units, and washing machines all go through a lot of water. A small malfunction can lead to a massive leak. Keep a close eye on these appliances, repairing them when needed, and make sure to replace them when their usefulness runs out.
Shut Off Your Water While Away
A worst case scenario is for your home to flood while you are away and cause unknown damage over days or weeks. To greatly reduce the risk of this happening, make sure you shut your water off when you leave town.
Install Leak Detectors
Water leak detectors are extremely useful tools for stopping water damage in its tracks. If you don’t have any, they are very affordable and will increase your peace of mind if you place them strategically throughout your home.
Keep A Close Eye On Your Water Bill
Your water bill is one way you can be tipped off of hidden water damage. If your water usage unexpected increases for the month, there may be a leak somewhere in your home you are not aware of.
Fix Or Replace Your Caulking
You can reduce or eliminate leaks around your windows and doors by purchasing a tube or a few and doing the job yourself. If you notice a crack, caulk it! Telltale signs of water leakage may be mold spots, bubbled paint, crumbly drywall or plaster, or termite activity.
Clean Your Rain Gutters
At least twice a year, check your gutters for blockage and clean them. This isn’t a pleasant job but failing to do this allows debris to build up so that water is unable to flow out of your gutters properly. When this happens, water spills over the top of them and pools around the base of your home.
Maintain Your Trees And Shrubs
The roots of the trees and shrubs in your backyard continue growing, through you never see it. Over time, they can grow into your underground water pipes and cause them to burst.
Install A Sump Pump
A sump pump is an extremely valuable tool for responding to a water damage disaster. If you don’t have one, we recommend installing one in your basement as soon as possible.
We hope you find these tips helpful! Still, if you ever experience any water damage issues in your home, don’t hesitate to give us a call at Faithful Cleaning in Billings for help.
