Preventing Water Damage

Water damage costs homeowners billions of dollars in claims each year; at Brownstone Insurance, 95% of our claims are from water related damage. By following these tips, you can reduce your risk of water damage and save money, time, and aggravation.

What you’ll find here

Tips for reducing the risk of suffering water damage
There are several steps you can take to reduce your chances of having a water damage accident. Even if you are fully insured and the water damage is covered, it is always cheaper and less aggravating to avoid the problem in the first place. It’s easier than you think and this paper will show you how.

How to keep your family safe in the event of water damage
If an accident does cause water damage to your home, the first priority is the safety of you and your family. You will discover the steps to take in keeping them safe.

How to recover from a water damage accident
Proper cleanup and recovery is important to minimize damage and maintain the value of your home and possessions. We’ll reveal the important elements of recovering from a water damage accident.

Start inside your home with leaks, drips, and clogs

The bathroom is a great place to start

The bathroom is especially at risk simply because of the number of pipes, faucets, and fitting located there. The sink, tub, and toilet are all major causes of water damage if they are not properly maintained.

Turn it off while on vacation

One of the best ways to prevent damage is to turn off the main water supply when you are away for an extended period. Most damage occurs when there is nobody around to spot the problem and fix it. Know the location of your main water shut-off, and turn it off for a trip of a few days or more. It only takes a few minutes and can prevent thousands of dollars in damage.

Check your pipes, fittings, faucets, and seals

Using a flashlight, check the caulking seals around your tub, sink, and toilet. Look for cracks, pealing, shrinking, or tearing that could allow water to seep and cause slow damage. Re-seal as necessary, or call a professional. Look under the sink and behind the toilet, and check all fittings and seals. Also check pipe fittings and hoses for leaks or cracks. Over time, flexible hoses can become brittle and crack. Oftentimes, problems can be located and fixed before causing any damage at all.

How to plunge a toilet

Do not flush foreign objects down the toilet; they are often the cause of clogs. If a clog does occur, turn off the water supply at the toilet, and plunge to clear the clog. Place plunger firmly into the toilet drain and plunge steadily up and down for a few pumps. Repeat as necessary, but if the toilet will not unclog contact a professional plumber.

How to clear a sink clog

Never plunge a sink drain; the seals cannot withstand the pressure of a toilet plunger. Instead, turn off the water supply and check the sink trap (under the sink) for foreign objects. Place a dishpan under the trap, unscrew the two couplings and remove the trap. Empty into the pan and remove the clog. If the trap is welded or glued, but has a clean-out plug at the bottom, remove the screw and clear the drain. In the future, make sure there is some sort of screen over the sink drain to keep object from falling in.

Maintaining your household appliances

Checking your washing machine, dishwasher, air conditioner, and refrigerator can take a little more time, since they are larger and often need to be moved to inspect. However, when a problem does occur these often cause serious damage due to the amount of water they use.

Check hoses every 5 years

Burst hoses can cause serious damage in a short amount of time. They should be checked periodically to spot potential problems. Again, with a flashlight, look at hoses and their connections and check for wear, discoloration, cracking, or bending. Over time, hot water hoses and become weak, expand, and finally burst, sending gallons of water into your home.

Check overflows

Appliances like air conditioners and refrigerators have overflows to allow condensation to drain. Make sure they are draining to the correct area and are not slowly dripping and causing damage.

Look on the inside

Calcium deposits, mildew, and corrosion can cause wear and possible water damage. Dishwashers are especially prone to clogging and corrosion, and proper maintenance can prevent problems.

Perform an annual inspection

Using a flashlight, go everywhere in your home that involves water and look at hoses, faucets, pipes, fittings, and seals. Look for the problems mentioned above.

Also learn to spot water damage. Look for discoloration on ceilings, walls, carpets, or hardwood floors. Where there’s water damage, there’s a leak. And unless it is found and fixed, it will only get worse.

Outside the house; what to look for

Roof check annually to find potential leaks, winter damage

Check the roof and exterior walls of your home annually to spot potential problems. Look for cracks, holes, or signs of water leakage such as discoloration. Think like the water and follow the natural flow paths, looking for problems.

Gutter cleaning

Maintain clean gutters throughout the year to avoid overflow and possible damage. Check the location of downspouts to insure they are clear and draining to the correct location. Make sure the joints between gutter and downspout are sealed properly.

Inspect exterior walls and seals around windows

Check exterior walls where the meet the roof, and where they meet the ground. Look for discoloration, cracks, or holes. Also look at the seals around window frames, checking for cracks, etc.

Exterior pipes to be insulated

Pipes on the exterior of the home should be insulated to avoid freezing in colder temperatures. Read our complete cold weather report for more details

Tips to stay safe if you do suffer water damage

Do not use electric appliances that have been close to fire, heat, or water. It is possible they could cause injury from an electric charge. This includes televisions, air conditioning units, etc.

Do not enter a room if the ceiling is sagging due to water retention. If a ceiling is merely wet and not sagging, you can remove ceiling fixtures to allow the wiring to dry.

Do not use any electric appliances while standing on or near water, which can conduct electricity and potentially cause a shock.

Cleaning up after

Regardless of the precautions you may take, accidents do happen. If you do suffer water damage to your home, it is important to clean up as soon as possible.

After you are certain of the safety of you and your family, the clean-up process can begin. The sooner the better, as mildew and decay can begin within hours.

Turn off water

The first step to recovery is to, whenever possible, turn off the water at the source to limit the damage.

Remove valuables to dry place

Remove any valuable items to a higher ground or safe area to prevent further damage. Open books to dry, and lay pictures and papers out to dry.

Removing water

Remove as much water as possible. A vacuum can be used, but it must be a wet/dry vacuum that is made for extracting water. A standard household vacuum is not intended for use with water and can cause electric shock.

You can also blot water on carpets with a dry towel, wring it out, and repeat. Remove rugs and aerate to dry, but do not remove carpets, which can shrink and be difficult to replace.

Air circulation, temperature, and humidity

The key to fast drying is good air circulation right after the accident. Use fans to create ample airflow. If damage occurs in a cold season, leave the heat on. If it happens in a warmer season, leave the air conditioner on and, if possible, a dehumidifier. The ideal would be 70 degrees, dry air, and lots of circulation.

Carpets, furniture, and fabrics

Here the key is to blot and wipe as much water as possible, and then aerate until dry. Place wooden blocks or aluminum foil under furniture legs to keep it off carpets. Remove other items that might cause color bleeding. Open drawers and cabinets to help circulation.

Finally, if you think the source of the damage might be contaminated, call for professional help immediately (see resources)