Never Undergo Water Damage Restoration Again

Having water damage happen to your home is bad enough – having to clean up and restore everything after is even worse.

Never undergo water damage restoration again! Here are some tips on how to keep water damage – including the expenses that it can cause – outside of the house where it belongs.

Make it a habit to check your rooftop. A leaky roof is one of the leading reasons behind water damage and why household items have to undergo water damage restoration. To check your roof, start by inspecting the roofing materials. Check if any shingles have curled or lifted around the edges. Scrape out any shingle that looks loose or out of place and replace with a brand new shingle. Seal the edges with roofing cement or roofing tar.

Don't forget to check the flashings around the areas where the roof meets the top walls. This is one part of the house that is easily overlooked and water can easily get through. Reseal the flashings if they look cracked or worn out, or buy new flashings to place over the old ones to reinforce them.

The next part of the house that needs checking is the attic. Always make sure that the attic is well-insulated and that the air is circulated. Keeping stagnant air in a poorly insulated attic will not only make it stuffy, but can also become a reason for you to have to call a water damage restoration service. If the warm air is able to escape up over the attic during the winter season, it could melt the snow on the roof and cause ice dams to form. Ice dams are a common winter problem, but they can become highly hazardous and can cost up to thousands of dollars in water damage restoration.

The chimney should also be included in the inspection as well. The bricks that the chimney is made out of should be well-constructed and waterproofed. If the chimney is letting water in, inspect the flashings. They might already be split or broken and in need of immediate repair.

Another way to avoid another water damage restoration is to make sure that all gutters and drains remain clog-free. Water should be able to flow out of the house unobstructed. A clogged gutter or drain will not only block water, but can also accidentally fall on something or someone if it becomes too heavy from the water, dirt, and other debris blocked inside it.

Lastly, a crucial step in avoiding another call to the water damage restoration service company is to conduct your own regular inspection of all household plumbing and appliances. These include the washing machine, the dishwasher, the kitchen sink, the bathroom sink, the toilet, and the bathtub among many other things. Check if all water supply lines are free from leaks and securely fastened to appliances. Drainage hoses should also be inspected and checked for tears, frays, and holes. Areas around plumbing and appliances should be dry and show no signs of water damage. If everything looks fine and in good condition, then you and your home are safe from another water damage restoration emergency.