One of the worst damages your home may experience is water damage. Water damage can come from various sources including flooding, roof leaks, and malfunctioning plumbing fixtures. Here are some of the measures you should take to keep water damage at bay.
Ensure Proper Landscaping and Drainage
Water damage can originate both within and outside the house. A simple rainfall or minimal flooding, for example, can enter the house and cause serious damage if your landscaping is poor and the land slopes towards the house. The same problem may occur if your drainage systems are poorly designed or are blocked. Fix such problems so that water from outside the house doesn't get into your home.
Install and Maintain Gutters and Downspouts
Water damage can also come from the roof if the gutters are missing, damaged, or have poor pitches. The same thing can also occur if the gutters and downspouts are blocked with debris, such as leaves, and they can't drain away water from the roof as usual. Fortunately, this is nothing gutter maintenance and cleaning can't take care of.
Shut Off the Main Water While Away
If you are going to be away for an extended period, then you should turn off your main water line so that a pipe or fixture doesn't burst in the house while you are away. Freezing temperatures, for example, may cause the water in your pipes to freeze and burst the pipes, leading to water damage when the temperature falls. You can't rely wholly on your heating system because a freak storm may damage power lines and cause a blackout for some time.
Install Leak Detectors
It's also advisable to install a leak detector so that you can be alerted to a hidden leak as soon as it occurs. Leak detectors may also alert you to water damage that may occur when one is in the house. The detectors should be installed near high-leak risk points such as water heaters, dishwashers, and toilets.
Install a Sump Pump
Lastly, you should know that water may flood your basement despite your best precautions. Therefore, you need to install a sump pump that can get rid of the water (in case flooding does occur) so that you can prevent water damage.
Water damage cleanup and repair may not be cheap depending on the extent of the damage. Hopefully, you will have a valid home insurance coverage to help with the repair costs if such a damage does occur. Contact a company like Amberg Insurance Center Inc for more information.
