One of the worst things to happen in your home is finding water where it shouldn’t be. Just like the time when a toilet at Liz’s house backed-up and proceeded to come through the first floor and basement ceiling to ruin the newly finished basement! We’ve been there, done that, and we don’t want our valued customers to have to experience it, and that’s why we’ve compiled these handy tips to help you prevent many of the most common causes of water damage.
- Make sure your water pressure is not set too high. For just $6 or so, you can purchase a gauge that will help you test your pressure for the appropriate level, which should be set between 60 and 80 PSI.
- Standard hoses on new appliances are not as durable as they used to be. So check your appliances. If they’re rubber, either replace them with longer lasting stainless steel braided hoses or replace them every three years.
- Keep water from leaking into the walls or floor of your bathroom by replacing cracked tiles and re-grouting when it’s needed.
- Examine the shingles on your roof. Worn, curled or missing shingles allow water in, so replace them as soon as noticed.
- Consider buying a water alarm, which can help you find leaks, or automatic shut-off mechanisms, which can help avoid bursts.
- A lot of water damage occurs when you and your family are away from home. Make a practice to avoid running the washing machine or dishwasher while you’re out.
- When you leave for vacations, turn off the water supply to appliances.
- Keep up maintenance on all appliance hoses, because slow leaks from worn out hoses can cause major damage (and they are not covered under Homeowners insurance).
We hope these pointers will ensure your house stays nice and dry as we head into the cooler fall and winter months.
