Water Damage Tips – Your Home’s Interior

Water damage is one of the most common and costly homeowner claims. The good news is there are ways to save your home and your possessions from the extensive damage even small floods can cause. Last week’s post covered your home’s exterior. This week’s post addresses your home’s interior.

Replace washing machine and refrigerator hoses periodically. More than any other single source, appliances cause home floods. Hoses typically have a five-year life expectancy, but as they get older, they become brittle. Replacing them regularly is one of the most essential ounce of prevention tips we can share.

Investigate and fix leaks promptly. When you ignore visible moisture, it can rapidly become mold, mildew, and/or dry rot—which are much more expensive to remediate. Also, homeowner’s insurance only covers sudden and accidental damages, so acting quickly is always in your best interest.

Install a water detector, a small electronic device that sounds an alarm when its sensor is in contact with moisture. It can detect low moisture levels or slow leaks that might otherwise go unnoticed. Install near water heaters, washing machines, dishwashers, toilets, and sump pumps to prevent often hidden but extensive damages and mold growth.

Check your water pressure. If it’s set too high, pipes and hoses may fail. Buy a water pressure gauge at a local hardware store, attach it to an outside faucet, and turn the faucet to full force to get readings of your home’s water pressure.

Typical residential water systems are designed for 40 – 70 psi water pressure. If your home’s water pressure exceeds 100 psi, install a pressure regulator (which is available at hardware stores as well.)

Monitor your water bill. If your usage jumps significantly from one month to the next without explanation, investigate. Is there a leak in your crawlspace? Or is it a pipe in your front yard? Don’t leave mystery leaks unattended!

If you suspect water damage, call an IICRC licensed water damage technician. Water Damage Repair Tech, LLC is fully certified, our emergency vehicles are always ready, and we can typically be onsite in an hour when it’s an emergency. We are locally owned, and we’ve been specializing in water damage investigations and remediations for more than a decade.

Water Damage Tips

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