5 Ways to Prevent Water Damage to Your Home
Water damage can weaken your Boulder home’s foundation and ruin your personal belongings. Plus, it encourages mold growth. As such, it is important to take steps to prevent it from happening in the first place.
Preventing water damage is a lot cheaper than having to pay for repairs and cleanup services. Follow these tips to protect yourself against water damage and prevent a soggy and expensive mess.
Keep an eye on your water bill
Since most of the pipes are hidden behind the walls and under the floors of your Boulder home, sometimes the only way to determine the presence of leaks is by taking a closer look at your Boulder water bill. If you get an unusually high water bill for no apparent reason, it may be due to a leak. Investigate leaks right away and have it fixed as soon as possible.
Fix leaks
Leaks usually result in a messy, costly problem. The attic, under your sinks, your bathroom toilets and behind your water heaters are good places to find leaks. Make repairs before a small leak turns into a big one.
Check appliances regularly
Washing machines, dishwashers, water heaters and ice makers are just some of the most common cause of Boulder plumbing leaks that may lead to water damage. Check appliance hoses and plumbing fittings for bending, crimping or breakage. For safety purposes, it is recommended to replace all hoses every 5 to 7 years.
Disconnect hoses in winter
If you live in areas where there are freezing temperatures, we advise that you remove hoses that are attached to pipes come winter. Many of the pipes that break during winter are located outside. For security purposes, it is best to drain and disconnect the hoses and shut off your main water valve. This is especially important if you’ll be away from home for an extended period of time.
Clean your gutters
When it rains, there could be hundreds of gallons of water flooding near your home. It is important to keep your gutters and downspouts clean and in working condition. Remove all leaves, sticks and debris that could clog your gutters. Also, make sure that your downspouts direct water away from your home’s foundation.