How to Prevent Water Damage in Your Home

Did you know that indoor dampness or molds in homes can aggravate or cause asthma? Such problems can also raise the risk of coughing, wheezing, infections, or allergies. All in all, these health woes are 30% to 70% more prevalent in homes with dampness or mold woes.

Those issues, in turn, often occur due to water infiltration or damage. That’s why it’s imperative to protect your home from water-related disasters.

This guide lists some of the top ways to protect your house from such events, so be sure to read on.

Schedule Routine Plumbing Inspections

Leaky plumbing pipes are some of the top causes of water in a crawl space, large ceiling stains, or soggy walls. Even if the defective pipes only leak small amounts of water, they can cause major damage over time. Unfortunately, they can be easy to miss since most pipes are underground or hidden.

What’s even worse is that in a typical US house, plumbing leaks waste up to 10,000 gallons of water a year. That can skyrocket if one or more of your pipes burst, allowing water to flood your home.

As such, a yearly plumbing inspection can help you protect your home from water damage. With this, a plumbing pro uses special devices to detect potential leaks in your system. From there, the expert can give you guidance on your repair or preventative options.

Shower Your Roof with TLC

The most common type of roof in the US is asphalt shingle, boasting a lifespan of up to 20 years. Slate, although far pricier than asphalt shingle, can last for 60 to 150 years. Clay and concrete roofs can also be useful for at least a hundred years.

Those estimates only apply to well-maintained roofing systems, though. In contrast, a lack of upkeep can result in the roofing materials degrading and springing leaks. The bigger the roof damage, the likelier it is for precipitation to seep all the way into your home.

As such, it’s best to invest in seasonal roof cleaning and professional maintenance. You should also consider asking your local roofer about protective roof coats. A coat can protect your roof from extensive leak-causing ultraviolet damage.

Keep Your Gutters Debris-Free

Gutters collect rain and melted snow and channel them away from your home. Without them, water will drip down and damage the exterior sides of your house. From there, the uncontrolled water can seep into and mess with your home’s foundation.

However, the same problems will happen if you let debris, such as leaves and branches, fill the gutters. The debris can block the gutter drains, allowing water to overflow.

For that reason, be sure to give your gutters regular inspections and cleanings. If there are plenty of trees around your house, do these tasks more frequently during fall.

Use These Tips to Protect Your Home from Water Damage

Keep in mind that water and freezing damage insurance claims in the US averaged $10,849 from 2014 to 2018. That proves how expensive it is to fix the destruction caused by water or ice.

So, as early as now, follow our tips to protect your home from such disasters. This way, you’re far likely to deal with their aftermath.

Interested in more home protection and improvement guides? Have a look at our recent news and blog posts then!