Water damage prevention is not complicated. However, failing to take important prevention steps like those mentioned below can lead to serious flooding problems. At Ally1 in St. George, we hope that you find these very doable tips helpful for preventing water damage in your home.
Replace Or Repair Old Pipes
Rusted or worn pipes are one of the most common sources for severe flooding. It is not difficult to detect wear in your pipes, but people often neglect checking because they are out of the way. Every couple months, do a run-through of your home and check for damage to your pipes. If you detect rust, cracks, or leaking water you should get in touch with a plumber right away so they can fix the damage before any flooding occurs.
Clean Your Rain Gutters
Rain gutters full of leaves, dirt, and debris are a common cause of flooding. The reason for this is that gutters full of debris are unable to filter water away from your home. As a result, water spills over the gutters and cause water to pool near the foundation of your home. It doesn’t take this happening a long time before water finds its way through weak spots in your foundation and floods your basement or crawlspace. This may not be a fun chore, but it is at least straightforward.
Point Downspouts Away From Your Home
Just as the purpose of rain gutters is to divert water away from your home, downspouts are also made to do the same. However, if you don’t point your downspout away from your home, then it won’t do you any good. To effectively keep water away from your home, your downspout should end at a minimum of five feet from your home.
Check Your Water Meter And Water Bill
Taking a serious look at your water meter from time-to-time, and your water bill whenever it comes, is an easy way to prevent water damage. The way to do this is to compare your water meter with past usage to see if your water usage is unexpectedly large. If it is, you may have a leak somewhere in your home. The same goes for your water bill. If it seems higher than it reasonably should be, you should inspect your home for any leaks that may be causing the discrepancy.
Install Window Well Covers
If your home has below-grade basement windows, you should invest in window well covers. Window well covers are very affordable and only take a couple minutes to install, but they go a long way towards preventing flooding in your basement. From a cost/benefit perspective, this is one of the best things you can do to prevent water damage in your basement.
We hope you find these tips easy and helpful for preventing water damage! Nonetheless, mistakes do still happen. If your home ever does flood, don’t hesitate to give us a call at Ally1 in St. George for help.
