Strategies For Water Damage Prevention

Having a prevention strategy for water damage in you is essential to minimize your risk of having it happen to you. Fortunately, there are many different things you can do to keep water damage at bay. At Challis Restoration in the Cedar Rapids area, we recommend the following methods as some of the best ways to keep your home water damage free.  

Regularly Inspect Your Property

• Plumbing: Keep an eye out for leaking fixtures dripping pipes. If you have had your pipes for a long time, they may be deteriorating and need to be replaced.
• Foundation: Be aware of cracks in your foundation and walls. Take special notice if new cracks are seeming to appear.
• Rain Gutters: A dirty rain gutter is just asking for water damage. Take care to clean yours out regularly. Otherwise, water will likely flood over and leak in through your foundation.
• Interior Walls And Ceilings: Check interior walls and ceiling paying particular attention to water stains that may develop after a heavy rain or hail storm. Can you identify their origin?

Keep Pipes From Freezing And Rupturing

• Inspect Your Pipes: During the winter months, you would be wise to insect your pipes regularly to ensure that no freezing is occurring.
• Keep Your Heat On: You may not likely paying the higher power or gas bill at the end of the month, but the extra utility prices are far preferential to a burst pipe and flooded home.
• Open Cabinet Doors: If you’re going to be out of the house for over a day or even if it’s just extremely cold you can expose your pipes to more warmth by opening your cabinet doors.
• Insulate Exposed Pipes: Cold air can harm unprotected water pipes, so cover pipes with foam or fiberglass insulation sleeves. This can help reduce the likelihood of them freezing.
• Put Your Water On A Drip: If your pipes are in any danger of freezing, keep a slow drip on all your faucets to keep water circulating through your pipes.

Additional Measures

• Install A Water Detection Device: Consider installing a water detection alert system. There are a variety of systems available, so do your homework to make sure you get the best one for your needs.
• Label Water Shut Off Valves: You may know where your water shut off valves are and can quickly access them in case of an emergency, but others won’t. Clearly label these valves so someone else can quickly shut off the water if needed and you’re not around.
• Establish and practice an emergency response plan designed to respond to water leaks and intrusions. Familiarize your staff on what to do should a pipe rupture. Consider consulting with a commercial plumber or local fire department for tips.

Despite all the preparation in the world, there is sometimes simply nothing you can do to prevent it. If that is the unfortunate case for you, you need to contact a certified cleaning and restoration company right away. If you live near the Cedar Rapids area, our restoration technicians at Challis Restoration are just a call away!