5 Simple Tasks to Avoid Household Water Damage

Fixing water leaks around the homeWater damage occurs in a number of vicious ways. From leaky pipes to cracks in a home’s foundation, water is determined to find its way inside and wreak havoc. It’s in its nature to do so and it’s in ours to prevent it from happening.

It’ll happen when you least expect it and even sometimes right in front of your face. The key fundamental to beat household water damage isn’t to just fight back, but to think ahead. Avoiding it altogether is way better than fighting the hassles of a water damaged household later on.

Plant Greenery around Your Home

Homes that reside in areas that receive an ample amount of rain or have poor drainage systems, tend to have water linger around the exterior, sometimes in puddles or small ponds. This gives water a chance to seep into the home’s foundation and into the basement. Not to mention, the longer water sits and soaks into the ground, the more it loosens the soil up, which means the ground can alter to cause foundation damage and even more water damage.

One way to dispose of this excess water is to plant shrubs, flowers and other greenery. Plants love water and will be able to absorb some of the excess water sitting around the home. However, this probably won’t be enough to avoid water damage from a larger excess of water, since plants can only soak up so much before becoming waterlogged. At this point, it’s somewhat pointless, since water still lingers around the home and the plants have too much water, which is why it’s also a good idea to…

 

Funnel Water Away from Your Home

Water lingers as a result of improper drainage. A home’s drainage system starts on the roof and doesn’t end until water completely drains away from the home.

  • Check Gutters:  The roof drains water into the gutters and if gutters aren’t clean, then that drastically puts a dampener on a home’s drainage system. The stagnant water adds extra weight to the gutters and gives time for the water to find a way into the roof. If the roof is also in need of repair, then this allows for much easier access.
  • Gutter Extensions:  Okay, so the gutters are clean, but now the water lingers around the base of the home and the plants can’t soak it all up. Add extensions to the gutters to funnel the roof water away from the home. If you’re worried about having ugly plastic drain pipes running across your yard, then place them underground. This may also help with better drainage anyway.
  • Create Trenches:  Your gutters are clean and you installed extensions, but water still lingers around your home. The gutters take care of roof water and the plants still can’t soak up all the water around the base of the home. Create additional downward paths, trenches or pipes that drain the water properly away from your home.

Seal Doors and Windows

The tiniest crack or space in a window or door is all that is needed for water or moisture to infiltrate a home. This is especially dangerous for double-paned windows. If the outer glass or frame has a crack, then moisture seeps in and condensation forms in between the window panes. Basement windows and window wells are also a target for water to enter into a home. These windows are sometimes on ground level, which means water in the soil has a greater chance of leaking into the basement.

Buy a Dehumidifier

It’s important to keep a house’s humidity level around 50% or less. Too much humidity means an abundance of moisture inside a home. If you’re unsure of your home’s current humidity level, use a hygrometer to get an accurate reading. If the level is too high, then purchase a dehumidifier to lower your home’s humidity level.

Clean Your Pipes

Leaky pipes are major contributors to water damage. Leaks can occur from many cases, but one way to prevent these from happening is to have healthy pipes. If you clean your pipes frequently, there will be less build up and fewer clogs. Less strain and pressure will be on the pipes and they will be more resilient to potential problems in the future.

 

Be proactive in your maintenance

Water damage occurs in several ways and sometimes it’s difficult keeping up and maintaining your home to prevent it. Although much time and effort is required, it will certainly save you further time and effort down the road if faced with the wrath of water damage. At that point, there won’t be much you can do except call a professional. In the meantime, do the simple things yourself to prevent these potential threats.