Winter cold is often the cause of significant damage caused by water. However, with a little care and regular maintenance, you can easily avoid this. Below are some tips.
Avoid rainwater seeping into your home
Chance of rain? Never leave your home with a window open, especially not a skylight. Make sure the facades are in good condition and have cracks repaired to prevent water seepage. Check the condition of your roof and attic regularly, especially after heavy rainfall or strong wind. Check the condition of gutters, cornices and downspouts.
Regularly clean all debris from the gutters and make sure that the bottom part of the downspouts does not become clogged. Prevent frost damage and also drain and insulate water pipes that have been exposed to frost, especially pipes to an outside wall or yard water tap. Also, think of washing machines in unheated rooms.
If a home has not been inhabited for several days, you can drain the water installations and central heating systems, unless you ensure that the temperature is high enough to prevent freezing. Be aware that if the ambient temperature is too low, paraffin may form in the fuel oil lines, causing the installation to stop and causing more serious damage. Do a thorough check as soon as it starts to thaw and don’t forget the uninhabited areas of the building. Have professionals from water damage restoration Denver fix any water damage on your property.
If still some mishap happens then you must contact a professional Mold Remediation Company.
In General
Regularly check the condition of the water pipes so that you can quickly detect a starting leak. A ‘leaking’ tap provides 4 liters of water per hour, which is almost 700 liters after a week!
Note if the first water to come out of a tap after a period of non-use is yellow or brownish. This may indicate that the inside of the pipe is rusting. If you don’t do anything, the rust will eventually crack the pipe.
Check the water tightness of the seals around showers and baths so that water does not seep in when you use them. Preferably choose a washing machine and dishwasher that are equipped with an anti-overflow system and do not put them on when you are not at home. Keep an eye on children as they usually like to play with water. Make it a habit to turn off the water in your home when you go away for a few days.
What your home insurance usually doesn’t cover:
- The repair of the appliances that caused the damage (broken washing machine, heating installation broken by the freezing weather,…).
- The repair of roofs and terraces along where the water has seeped in. In some cases, the damage is due to a lack of maintenance or prevention (eg leaving outdoor areas without protection against frost).
- The guarantees may differ from society to society. Feel free to contact me if you want to know what your contract covers exactly.
- Some insurance companies also offer assistance, called ‘repairs in kind’, which provides urgent repairs.
