According to a survey conducted, majority of property claims that insurance agencies handle is water damage. Water has a subsequent role in damaging your house, office and possessions. Sometimes these damages are caused by damp, some times by flood and some times even malfunctioning electronic appliances like washing machines, dishwashers, etc. Any of these reasons can ultimately result into property and possession damage to some extent. Sometimes you can restore the damaged article by reacting fast, sometimes you lose certain priceless stuffs like photographs by not taking necessary initiatives.
It is always better to be safe than to worry and crib later. So, if you take some preventive steps beforehand, it can save your prized belongings as well as hassles. Following tips can help you prevent water damage to a large extent:
-Double check all the windows and their seals if they are tightly locked. Replace caulk if required. This will stop seepage resulting into water damage.
-Look for leaks in the stall of shower, faucet and tub. If caulk has become brittle, replace it with a new one immediately. Stains of water in your toilet bowl, wash basin, sink or tub indicate damaged seals of the tank and rim.
-Replace hose pipes of your kitchen in every fifth year. Also keep checking for leaks in your dishwasher and icemaker. A little investment every year will spare you of a handsome expenditure with additional hassles of damaged property.
-If you notice frail or corroded hosepipes of your washing machine, call technicians right away to replace them. It is also advisable to reinstate pipes made of stainless steel instead of rubber pipes. This lowers down the possibilities of leakage and enhances longevity.
-Installation of water supply box to the washer can act as shut-off valve. This ensures no water damage when you are away.
-If you notice rust in your electronic geyser, start taking measures because it indicates the onset of water damage happened to your tank.
-To prevent water damage to your important documents and memorabilia, keep them covered with water-resistant jackets. Generally, these covers are costly, but quite effective as water-proofing.
As a protective measure, you should clean up the gutters, drains and dripping roofs. Water seeping through them can make irreparable damage to your house. Trim the adjoining trees so that the branches do not block sunlight as mildew and moss develop in shed and damp.
There are certain appliances available in market which can detect water damage and alarm you accordingly. Water leak detection system is one such hardware which notices leakage in any part of the house and notifies you so that you can take necessary actions. Some gadgets stop the supply of water on instances of leakage of a particular appliance. Similarly, there are appliances which perform the same task but for the entire system of your household.
If you monitor the water system of your house every week or at least every fortnight, then you can tackle a pertinent issue of water damage easily. Then instead of reinstating, installing or replacing damaged gadgets or spare parts, just a little mopping would serve your purpose.
Samantha Kleiner does writeups for homeowners for
Water Damage Restoration and
Chicago Water Damage Cleanup
