24/7 Emergency Service
Tips to Avoid Water Damage to Your Nashville Home
10/19/2014 (Permalink)
Water damage is one of those things that a lot of homeowners do not think about until it is too late. According to a leading national insurance provider, water causes 85 percent of all damage in homes. Even though broken pipes are seen as the main culprits, leaks of all types can cause havoc in a home. However, the sad fact is that a lot of suffering and costly water damage can be prevented. A few things can help people avoid costly water damage to their home.
Keep the Pipes in Good Order
Pipes are something that many people never think about until they fail. Plumbing does fail though, and the water damage that burst pipes and overflowing drains cause can reach thousands of dollars. The best way for people to deal with any plumbing problem is to repair or prevent them before a disaster happens.
It is best to check pipes at least once a year for signs of damage and condensation. People should also call their plumber if they see signs of leakage before a complete blockage can cause overflow into their home.
They should also pay attention to their water bill if they subscribe to a city water company. This is because a big increase can signify that there is a problem or a plumbing leak in their water heater or toilet. If they have a well, they should assess everything for leaks if they notice that their pump is running when no one is using any water.
People who live in a climate that has a winter season should insulate any pipes in their crawlspace, attic and basement in order to avoid bursting and water damage. They should also leave the cabinet doors located under their sink open when the temperature drops down to keep the pipes warm.
Prevent Ice Damming
If a person notices a lot of large circles along their roof during the winter, they could be at risk for ice damming. An ice dam is created when snow on the roof melts, runs down to the gutters and refreezes. This creates a pool of water that seeps down walls and underneath shingles causing extensive water damage.
To prevent ice dams, people should make sure that all openings in their attic are sealed. This includes access doors and panels, ceiling mounted fans and light fixtures. They should also make sure that exhaust ducts from the bathroom and clothes dryer do not blow moist hot air into the attic.
People should also clean gutters so that the water can flow through them easily and install a snow shield. It prevents leaks as long as the water does not back up to a point above the shield. The use of a gutter screen should also be considered. This is because it keeps out debris that can cause buildup and damage gutters.
Remove Snow Away From the Home’s Foundation
With years of settling and shifting, a home’s basement can have lots of cracks. What is worse is that poor drainage allows melting ice water and snow to seep into it causing unwanted water damage. If it is ignored, it can cause unhealthy mold accumulation and major financial loss.
To avoid this, people should remove the snow and ice away from the house especially if they have landscaping and scrubs next to the exterior walls. This is because their roots are a natural path for water to seep into the ground and the foundation. People should also check for any areas that have water pooling. Water will leak into the basement as it has nowhere else to go. This will eventually penetrate the walls and cause serious water damage.
SERVPRO of South Nashville Professionals provide fire and water damage restoration services. SERVPRO of South Nashville proudly serves Nashville, Brentwood, Berry Hill, Oak Hill, Forest Hills, Mt. Juliet, Old Hickory, Goodlettsville, Inglewood, Gladeville, and surrounding areas. We are available 24 hours/7 days a week and are ready to restore damage to your home or commercial structure caused by:
SERVPRO of South Nashville's fully certified water removal staff can perform a complete damage assessment to your home of office, and then recommend and follow the industries standards to get your water removal restoration repaired properly available 24 hours a day
SERVPRO of South Nashville is a 24/7 emergency water removal & flood clean up repair service company, Our technicians are highly trained and experienced with every water damage situation from sewage damage clean up, mold removal, smoke damage repair, fire damage repair, flooded basement, wet carpet, wet walls, carpet water damage, basement water damage, flooded crawl space, sewer backup, sewage removal, mud removal, commercial water damage, restoration, house water damage, building water damage, hotel water damage, flooded building, crawl space water damage, crawl space sewage damage, pump out, dry out, flood water removal, commercial building water removal, building flood damage, hardwood floor water damage, wet hardwood floors, wet carpet drying, sewage restoration, flood cleanup, busted pipe water damage, broken pipe water damage, busted sprinkler water damage, frozen pipe water damage, flood pump out, basement pump out, restoration equipment rental, dehumidifier rental, fan rental, demolition, painting & construction.