Preventive maintenance helps avoid water damage in the home by reducing the potential of hidden or unknown leaks. In many cases, leaking water happens silently and doesn't trigger any alarms. A water leak may persist for an extended period before it's noted and repaired. By then, possessions may be saturated and ruined, mold growth may have begun and structural components of the house may be damaged.
These techniques for prevention and early detection of unknown leaks may help avoid water damage in the home:
- Pay attention for signs of water leakage or damage during regular housecleaning, particularly when looking under sinks and other areas near plumbing connections.
- Check behind refrigerators, dishwashers and washing machines monthly for leakage.
- Don't leave the house while the dishwasher or washing machine are running in case an overflow or pipe rupture occurs.
- Track down the source of musty, damp odors that may emanate from hidden water leakage.
- Keep the rain gutters and downpipes unclogged.
- Make sure rain runoff from the roof is diverted far away from the home to prevent water infiltration into the foundation or basement.
- Know the location of your home's main water shutoff valve, as well as how to turn it off. Periodically check the valve to make sure it rotates freely.
- Annually inspect the roof for external evidence of leakage.
- Check inside the attic yearly for signs of roof leaks, including saturated or moldy attic insulation.
- Make sure the attic is evenly ventilated to eliminate roof hot spots that cause ice dams which result in roof leakage.
- Replace the hot and cold appliance water supply hoses every five years.
- Install water leakage alarms near water heaters, appliances and in the basement.
For still more methods to avoid water damage in the home, contact the professionals at Rytech.
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