If you have lived in Richardson, Texas long enough, you have either experienced severe water damage in your home or have had a friend or neighbor who did. It could have been a burst pipe or sprinklers, or even a flood; whatever the situation was for you or your neighbor, I am sure it was a great inconvenience.
It is always said that prevention is better than cure, that is why, in this article, we are going to advise on measures you could take to avoid water damage in your home.
Avert Water from Flooding the Basement
One of the areas in the home that experiences the most water damage is that basement. Here are some tips to avoid basement water damage.
- Perform a reseal of your basement. The presence of water in the basement is usually caused by cracks in the foundations of buildings or floor slabs. When you find water inlet during heavy rain, especially when you have never had that problem, it can indicate that your once durable cement floors and basement walls have eroded. Use water sealant to paint fragile areas to avoid seepage.
- Ensure the water flows away from the property. Leakage is amplified by soil that has settled in such a way that water flows toward the building. During a flood, and particularly if the earth is already flooded, the rainwater rushing into the building potentially floods into any cracks on the outside of the foundation wall.
- Install a backwater valve. Although less common than other basement leakage causes, sewer backups are messy. Learn more about your sewage obligations and build and maintain a backwater valve that encourages sewage to exit, but not enter.
Maintain Your Indoor Plumbing structures
By taking gentle care of your plumbing systems, you would be able to avoid water damage. Here is how you do this.
- Inspect appliance hoses and faucets. Make it a tradition to test hoses every year that lead to water heaters, dishwashers , washing machines and ice makers for fridges. You will still want to invest in a detection and shut-off device for water leaks that will alert you of any leakage problems. Immediately patch every broken or leaking hoses and repair them again every five or seven years.
- Inspect bathtubs and toilets. Test the seal and caulking around the showers and tubs to ensure that they are watertight and resealed as appropriate.
- Switch off the water source to the laundry machine while out on holiday. Never leave the house whilst loading the washer or dishwasher.
- Know where the main water shut-off valve is situated inside your house. A damaged hose or a burst pipe can send water flooding into your home. Capable of easily finding and shutting down the primary water source would save energy, resources and time.
- Mount a tube for rapid pressure release into your plumbing network. It should guard from added strain from frozen pipes which will help avoid bursting of the pipes.
- Checks pipes for plumbing and ventilation. Watch carefully for holes and leaks, then make the required fixes.
Maintain and Repair your home’s exterior
- Seal and Caulk windows. This protects against water inlet.
- Inspect the roof. Check for shingles that are broken, weakened and rotting and perform the required repairs.
- Test the runoffs. Replace waste that might have collected in rain gutters and downspouts. Put down spouts to steer water away from the building.
- Check sprinklers and irrigation systems. Ensure they do not damage the wall with water.
However, if all else fails and you are still faced with water damage or a Richardson water removal problem, you could always call SERVPRO. They have been in the industry for over 30 years and have trained water damage specialists who can take care of your water problem swiftly.
