April showers bring May flowers but it can also bring floods and water damages in residential and commercial properties. Catastrophic floods may be in the headlines, but common water damages from plumbing systems within residential or commercial properties cost billions of dollars every year. Flooding could be due to leaking or damaged tubs, toilet overflow, shower leaks, burst pipes, leaky roofs, and washing machines to name a few.
We’ve gathered some helpful tips to help prevent a water damage in your home or commercial building.
1. Maintain Your Roof in Good Condition
A yearly roof inspection should be added to your preventative maintenance list to prevent and fix any problems that can occur over the course of the year. Place a ladder on the edge of your roof to get an up close and personal with the roof without having to walk around up there. Work your way around the house noting any potential problems; such as:
- cracked caulk or rust spots on flashing
- shingles that are buckling, curling, or blistering
- missing or broken shingles
- cracked and worn rubber boots around vent pipes
2. Inspect Gutters and Downspouts Frequently
Gutters and downspouts are installed along a roof’s edge to capture and direct runoff. A clogged or damaged gutter often fails to move water away from the structure efficiently and can lead to puddling, leakage, and sometimes structural damage. When inspecting your gutters, look for the following:
- build up of leaves or debris in the gutters
- small debris left from original clean up- flush smaller debris out of the gutters with a hose
- unclog the downspout if water is not flowing freely
- check for standing or slow-moving water in the gutter
- look for space between gutter and wall or fascia
- identify seams, ends or other parts of the gutter where sealant is missing or leaks are observed
3. Check Your Irrigation System on A regular Basis
An external leak in an irrigation system can quietly waste more than 100 gallons of water each day.
4. Inspect windows for signs of water damage
A water stain around windows or at the bottom of exterior doors shows that water is getting in from the outside. Make sure all windows and doors are tightly sealed. If any signs of water damage are spotted, windows should be replace and the damaged area restored.
5. Frequently inspect appliances to ensure working order
Washing machines, refrigerators, and dishwashers commonly cause water damages. Frequent checks to make sure seals are in good condition, water lines and ice makers are working well can help you spot problems to prevent a water damage.
6. Check for interior structural problems
Spongy beams or rafters may be a warning of structural problems as a result of water damage. Spotting these in time may save you thousands of dollars in repairs. Need to waterproof a cinder block wall in your home? Read this blog post.
7. Look for signs of leaks or cracks
Under the sink, the attic, behind the water heater, washing machine and your bathroom toilets are places you might find leaking pipes. Fix all water leaks, leaky pipes, wall cracks and leaky plumbing. This prevents water damage in your home and mold growth.
8. Perform a toilet test
Use food coloring to determine whether your toilet has a leak.
- Remove the tank lid and flush
- After it refills, add several drops of dark food coloring
- Wait at least 20 minutes and if any trace of color appears in the toilet bowl, you have a leak.
If you find yourself in a position where emergency service is needed, have our number on hand and we’ll get your property back to pre-loss conditions quicker using our Faster Restorer Mentality. Do you have more questions about a water damage in your home? Watch our video on “Your Questions Answered: All About Water Damages”
About AmeriClean, Inc.
AmeriClean, Inc was established in 1986 by Bob Eriks in a small warehouse as a provider of Fire Damage Restoration for Northwest Indiana. Fast forward to today and AmeriClean’s services include Carpet, Upholstery, Air Duct, Area Rug, Ceramic Tile Cleaning; as well as: Water Damage Restoration, Fire Damage Restoration and Mold Remediation. With 30 years of experience, AmeriClean, Inc. is now a leading name in residential and commercial properties for cleaning and restoration needs. For more information, visit our website or call 800.654.9101.
