What falls in the top five claims with homeowner’s insurance companies? You guessed it. Water damage. While older homes have the most risk, it is also the location of your home that is a huge consideration. Not only is water damage a risk inside your home, but it will also cause the foundation to weaken. To add to that, wood that has been damp or consistently stays damp is a wide open invitation to mold, mildew, carpenter ants and termites.

Putting in an insurance claim for water damage can be rigorous and is just the beginning. There are many other things you must ensure you take care of for the claim to process. This includes such elements as starting mitigation of the water damage, documenting by taking pictures or videos to obtaining your estimates on repair from qualified contractors.

One thing you need to remember is that most homeowner’s policies only cover incidents that are unplanned or unexpected. There are obviously some things that are totally out of your control such as mother nature.

However, they will not cover for the lack of preventative maintenance. What is better than going through dealing with the after effects of the damage? That’s right, taking the steps ahead of time to allay the water damage.

5 Tips That Will Prevent Water Damage

1. Always make sure your home has proper drainage around the perimeter of the house. Make sure that there is at least a 6-foot slope away from the foundation. The slope allows the water to run away from the house and not accumulate in spots around the foundation. If you don’t take care of this, it will cause cracks in the masonry, leaks, or walls to lean. Also, don’t allow the ground around your home to get too dry as this will cause cracks in the soil as well. When it finally does rain, the excess pressure on the wall of the foundation could cause cracking. Also, be sure to clean your gutters on a regular schedule.
2. Make sure the water pressure in your home is set correctly. If it is excessive, the chance of pipe failure is high. A DIY tip is to purchase a water pressure gauge at your local home repair store and connect it to an outside spigot. By turning the water up high, it will give a reading of the level of the pressure in your home. 40 to 70psi is generally what most systems will take. There is also an option of installing a pressure regulator which limits the water pressure to a constant output.
3. On a regular basis, check for water leaks. Postponing this crucial inspection could lead to termites, carpenter ants, mold, and mildew. By checking for leaks, you can head off this type of damage to your home. Simple ways to do these checks are to look under sinks for dark spots under the piping, visuals of stains on the ceiling, dripping pipes or supply lines, and toilets that move. As well, it is critical to check your roof for signs of damage such as broken, loose or missing shingles. Also, check around the flashing for any possible leakages.
4. Having already mentioned your toilet, this is a big culprit in water damage. Aside from what has been referred to above about toilets, inspecting the flushing mechanism and the supply line every six months is a must. Also, make sure the connection to the valve is fixed securely. Checking this valve to make sure the water supply will shut off is necessary. Be sure to replace it if it isn’t functioning correctly.
5. Another great tip in preventing water damage is to know where your main water shutoff is located. If a water leak does occur in your home and you don’t know where to find the water main, it can extend the time that the water is running. Don’t wait until the last minute to look for this; prepare yourself in the case of future issues. Especially if you go on an extended trip, by knowing where the water main is, you can make sure to shut it off to prevent any problems while you are away.

Take Steps To Prevent Water Damage

One of the best ways to check if there is a problem and to prevent any water damage is to keep a close eye on your water bill. If there is significant usage and you are unsure where it came from, leaks in your pipes or supply lines could be the cause.

By not taking steps to prevent these issues, you could very well wind up with a situation that is not only destructive to your home but your budget as well.