Homeowners and landlords are often susceptible to water and mold damage to their properties, no matter what they do or how much they prepare. Still, barring catastrophic flooding due to severe weather, there are several ways that will dramatically reduce your risk of flood damage related to indoor water damage (eg, leaking pipes, blockages, faulty appliances, etc.). In other words, we can’t control the weather, but we can certainly directly affect the likelihood of water damage occurring in homes by taking some preventative steps to avoid common types of indoor flood damage. The following are one of the most common causes of internal water and mold damage and corresponding preventative measures that almost any forward-thinking owner or manager would benefit from.
Water heaters are one of the parts of your dream home that are often neglected until you find a problem, because, as the old adage goes, “out of sight, out of mind.” Many water heater leaks or explosions occur towards the end of or as soon as the manufacturer’s warranty, which is almost 12 years, ends. We recommend that homeowners schedule water heater tank inspections every 2 to 3 years, beginning toward the end of the particular warranty expiration; and every 1-2 years after expiration. Proper operation, as well as life expectancy, can also be maintained by regular maintenance and flushing out sediment that builds up in water heaters.
One of the best types of damage to prevent is washing machine leaks. Over 50% of reported washing machine water losses are due to falling rubber hoses and installation failures. The average lifespan of rubber hoses is 3-5 years, so they need to be replaced every three to four years to be safe. Look for aftermarket heavy-duty rubber hoses when you go to replace them. When you put the washer unit back in place, keep at least five inches between the back of the system and the water seal.
Sewer overflows are one of the least common reasons, but they can also be one of the most unpleasant types. Sewer backups usually originate somewhere in a property’s drainage pipes along with city sewer wrinkles in the streets. Obviously, you can’t control municipal sewers, but you can take the preventative step of hiring a qualified plumber to install a backflow reduction device in your property’s sewer program. Other less common reasons behind sewer overflow are tree roots that are too close to the drain lines and break them, so make sure there are absolutely no large trees within just 10-20 feet.
We hope that these guidelines have been to your liking.
There are a number of other types of indoor water damage and preventative steps to take, but this is a good start.