Homeowners and homeowners are often susceptible to water damage and mold on their properties, regardless of what they do or how much they prepare. Even so, barring catastrophic flooding due to severe weather conditions, there are a number of ways you will dramatically reduce the risk of flood damage related to indoor water damage (e.g. leaky plumbing, obstructions, kitchen appliances defective, etc.). In other words, we can’t control the weather, but we can certainly directly affect that water damage to homes is likely to occur by taking enough preventative measures to warn of common types of indoor flood damage. Below are one of the most common causes of internal water and mold damage and the corresponding preventive measures that almost any forward-thinking homeowner or manager would benefit from.
Water heaters are one of the parts of your dream home that is generally neglected until you discover there is a problem, because as the old saying goes, “out of sight, out of mind.” Many hot water heater leaks or bursts occur toward the end or as soon as the manufacturer’s warranty ends, which is about 12 years. We recommend that homeowners schedule inspections of the water heater tank every 2-3 years, beginning towards the end of the particular warranty expiration; and every 1-2 years after expiration. Proper operation and life expectancy can also be maintained by regular maintenance and flushing out of build-up sediment in water heaters.
One of the best types of damage that can be prevented is washing machine leaks. Over 50% of reported washing machine water losses are due to falling rubber hoses and faulty installation. The average lifespan of rubber hoses is 3-5 years, so they should be replaced every three to four years to be safe. Look for sturdy aftermarket rubber hoses when replacing them when you put the washer unit back in place, keep at least five inches between the back of the system and the water.
Sewer backups are one of the less common reasons, but they can also be one of the nastiest types. Sewer backflows generally originate somewhere in a property’s sewer pipes along with city sewer lines wrinkling within streets. Obviously, you cannot control municipal sewers, but you can take the preventive step of hiring a qualified plumber to install a backflow reduction device in your property’s sewer program. Other less common reasons behind sewer buildup are tree roots that are too close to the drain lines and break them, so make sure there are no large trees within a 10 to 20 foot radius.
We hope these guidelines have been good for you.
There are a number of other types of indoor water damage and preventative measures that need to be taken, but this is a good start.