Water, often associated with hydration and as a source of life, can also be a source of destruction and devastation. When flooding and water damage in homes happen, they happen unexpectedly and accumulate rapidly. 

Realizing that your home has a leak a little too late can oftentimes make the cleanup and water restoration process extremely costly and labor-intensive. In addition to the typical water damage, it can also wreak havoc on your property’s structure, destroy personal belongings, and cause mold growth. 

To safeguard against these potential damages, it’s imperative that you take proactive steps in water damage-proofing your home. In this blog, we’ll cover how to prevent water damage so you can ensure a safer living environment. 

Preventing Water Damage Inside Your Home

Preventing water damage inside your home is crucial to protect your property and personal belongings. Besides, who really enjoys a massive water leak and mold growth?

By preventing water damage inside your home, you can help protect your property’s structure, prevent mold, protect your belongings and save significant amounts of money and time. 

Water damage can cause your home’s structure to rot and decay, compromising its stability. This leads to potentially unsafe living conditions and costly repairs. 

Additionally, by not taking proactive steps, the excess moisture that leaks into your home can cause mold growth, which can cause health problems like asthma, allergies, and other respiratory issues. 

1. Know Where Your Water Main is Located

Knowing where the water main is located is extremely important in preventing excess flooding and water damage inside your home. The water main is the source that allows water to enter your home, and they all come with an emergency shutoff valve. 

In addition to knowing where the water main is located, be sure to have the emergency shutoff valve regularly inspected for any damage. The last thing you need is for a water emergency to happen and for your emergency shutoff valve to be rusty or broken. 

By taking the time to familiarize yourself with your home’s plumbing system, you can prevent costly water damage in the long run. Be sure to inform other household members as well where the water main is located and how to operate the emergency shutoff valve. 

2. Caulk Areas Around Tubs, Showers, and Washing Machines

It’s important to caulk areas around your home that are exposed to water constantly. These areas include the tub, showers, and washing machine. 

Water pooling around these areas can seep into your flooring and walls, causing mold growth and other damage.

Caulking these areas is a relatively cheap and simple solution to keep water where it belongs and to prevent water damage. Caulk is a flexible material that easily seals cracks and gaps, preventing water from seeping through. It’s easy to apply and requires no more maintenance than the occasional touch-up. 

In addition to caulking, be sure to inspect these areas for any leaks or damage to get to the source as soon as possible. 

3. Raise Suspicion of Any Leaks

If you’ve noticed a new leak or water stain, it’s vital to immediately inspect the area to get it under control. As briefly mentioned earlier, even the smallest leaks can cause significant water damage over time. 

By being proactive and addressing leaks early on, you can minimize the water damage and protect your home’s structure and your personal belongings. 

Addressing a suspected leak includes:

• Checking your plumbing and drainage systems.
• Inspecting all appliances, such as your washing machine and dishwashers.
• Monitoring your water bills for any unusual spikes. 

4. Check Your Water Pressure

Unmonitored water pressure can lead to water damage. That’s why understanding your home’s water pressure is important because pipes may fail if the pressure exceeds 80 psi. 

The general rule of thumb is that you want the water pressure to stay between 30 and 80 psi. Anything above 80 will likely cause issues such as:

• Repeated leaks in appliances and fixtures
• Burst lines
• Appliance failure
• Sounds in plumbing

In addition to leaks, high water pressure can cause damage to the appliances and reduce their lifespan and lead to potentially costly repairs. 

Be sure to understand the appropriate water pressure levels for your home. 

Use a water gauge to determine if the pressure is too low or too high. If it’s too high, you can install a pressure regulator, and conversely, if it’s too low, you can adjust the regulator to increase pressure. 

Preventing Water Damage Outside Your Home

Preventing water damage outside your home is important to help protect your foundation and prevent mold production. 

Excess water around your home can saturate the soil around the foundation and cause it to crack or shift. This will ultimately lead to costly and even dangerous structural damage. 

Recognizing the common causes of water damage might be the best place to start to prevent disasters from happening. Getting rid of standing water can also help prevent the spread of mold because standing water provides an ideal environment for mold spores. By removing standing water and preventing it from accumulating in the first place, you drastically reduce the chances of mold overtaking your home. 

1. Disconnect Hoses and Check Faucets

Regular inspection of outdoor faucets and appliance lines leading outside is important to prevent a water damage house. Make sure each faucet is completely sealed. This is because even small leaks over the course of a day or two can add up and lead to significant water damage before you know it. 

Disconnecting hoses when they’re not being used can also help prevent leaks, especially during winter. Failing to disconnect hoses during winter can lead to water flowing back, freezing, and causing pipes to burst. 

2. Clean Gutters and Downspouts

After disconnecting hoses and checking all faucets, it’s important to routinely clean your gutters and downspouts. This is due to debris, leaves, mud, and other runoff following large storms creating a barrier. 

That barrier prevents excess water from draining properly, causing water damage to your walls, windows, and foundation. 

Be sure to regularly clean your gutters and downspouts to ensure that excess water flows away from your home. 

In addition to damaging your walls, windows, and foundation, the excess water can also seep into your home, causing mold growth and other significant damage. 

Routine cleaning can also help reduce the risk of basement flooding and ensure a safe living environment. 

3. Maintain Trees, Shrubs, and Vegetation

Clogged gutters and downspouts aren’t only a byproduct of a large storm. They can also get clogged if your trees, shrubs, and vegetation aren’t maintained. For example, overgrown shrubs and tree branches can easily block gutters, leading to more debris accumulating and eventually excess water. 

Regularly trimming and maintaining vegetation can promote proper drainage and potentially increase your home value!

Taking proactive measures can save you time and money in the long run. Don’t wait for the water damage to devastate your home. Give our team of seasoned professionals a call. We’re here 24/7 to help prevent further damage and to restore your home to how you remember it.