Depending on where you live, there are likely several months of the year that are warm, sunny, and relatively rain-free. However, most regions experience a stretch of rainy weather during some of the colder, more mild months. Unfortunately, rainy and snowy weather throughout the wintertime can lead to some serious water damage inside your home if you haven’t taken certain precautions against it.
Water damage is one of those things that can happen without you even noticing until it is too late. Unless you frequent certain spaces in your home like the attic, then you could have had water seeping into your house undetected for weeks or even months.
When water gets into your home, it can quickly result in mold and mildew growth. This can deteriorate the integrity of walls, floors, and ceilings. You can call water damage restoration Denver if your house has been damaged by water such as flood. Moreover, there is no telling what sort of issues you might have in regard to the electricity and plumbing running through your home.
Preventing water damage is all about getting ahead of things and taking precautionary steps against them. With the right steps in place, you can effectively protect your home from water damage during even the rainiest times of the year.
With that in mind, here are five things that you should do when you are hoping to protect your home against water damage.
1. Don’t Overlook Roof Repairs
Even though they can be rather pricey, repairs to your roof aren’t things to put aside for another day. Rather, you need to take care of roof repairs as and when you realize that they need to be made.
To that point, you might not be aware of the fact that your roof is in need of repairs at all. Unless you have inspected your roof thoroughly or noticed water damage inside your home, there could be issues with it that you don’t know about.
Because of this, it is important to have your roof inspected by a professional at least once, if not twice a year. While you might be able to even inspect your roof yourself with confidence, it is always best to leave the actual roof repair process to the professionals. This will help to ensure that everything is done properly and in such a way as to prevent the occurrence of water damage within your home.
2. Inspect Your Foundation
The risk of internal water damage to your home is not limited to that which can result from issues with the roof. It is also possible for water to enter your home from the ground up. If you have issues with your foundation, for instance, the water damage that can happen is nothing to take lightly.
Not only can water damage from a damaged foundation destroy your flooring, but it can also cause further damage to the foundation itself. If left unchecked, fixing such things can become a costly and time-consuming event in your life.
It is a good idea to have your foundation inspected every so often to check for cracks or other faults. Furthermore, if you detect the presence of water in your home, have a professional out right away to ensure that an issue with your foundation isn’t to blame.
3. Protect Your Pipes
Throughout the winter months, it is highly likely that temperatures in your region dropped significantly. This can lead to an increase in the use of your home’s central heating system. Unfortunately, the rise in your energy bill can be quite troubling at this time of the year.
While there is nothing wrong with being energy conscious during the wintertime, you need to make sure that you aren’t taking things too far and putting your home’s plumbing at risk. If left too long at freezing temperatures, your pipes can freeze and subsequently crack or even burst. The ensuing water damage can be far more costly to repair than the energy bill that you might have paid in order to keep things warm enough.
If you are going out of town for a week or two in the winter, it is important that you keep your thermostat set to at least 60 degrees. You should also open any cabinets and cupboards that house pipes and plumbing. These steps will help to protect your pipes and keep them from freezing while you are away.
4. Clear Your Gutters of Debris
Taking care of your roof isn’t the only way to protect your home from water that can leak in from the top of the house. Gutters that are blocked up and clogged with debris and dirt can cause a great deal of water damage as well.
Your gutters, especially those with Aussie Gutter Protection are there to help water run away from your home. They prevent water from pooling and subsequently leaking into your house. If they are blocked up, however, then they can have the opposite effect and actually cause water to enter your home.
Make sure that you take the time to give your gutters a thorough cleaning. This can be done by hand or even by using a device designed for such a job. It is important to clean out your gutters more than once a year as well. You should really do so when you are anticipating a great deal of precipitation so as to prevent water damage inside your home.
5. Don’t Run Certain Devices When You Are Away
There are a number of appliances that are essential to everyday life that use water. Your washing machine, dishwasher, and even your ice maker all come to mind. However, if you are going to be away from the house for a significant stretch of time, it is best to make sure that these devices and appliances aren’t in use.
There is nothing more frustrating than leaving the house for a day only to return to find your kitchen flooded because you turned on the dishwasher before you left. While it might be a bit inconvenient, save the use of such appliances for when you are home.
