Water damage occurs when excess amounts of water pool throughout the home. There are several things that can cause this added amount of water - many of them out of our control. However, there are certainly steps you can take as a homeowner to prevent damage.

Busted or Leaking Pipe

Whether your pipes are old or your drains and toilets have been backing up - you could have a busted (or leaking) pipe on your hands sooner rather than later. In fact, busted pipes are commonly a cause for water damage and are difficult to prevent. Your sewer lines can actually be affected easier than you might think - do your sewer lines run under roots in your yard? Is something wrong with your garbage disposal? Both of these can damage the pipe structure under your home and unfortunately, lead to water damage.

Natural Disaster

As homeowner’s, you may have no control over natural disasters (storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc.) - but you can certainly take preventive measures. If you know a big storm is coming, moving all of your belongings away from the floor will help to protect their integrity. Additionally, you may want to double check any basements or attics to ensure they’re properly sealed, and avoid additional water buildup.

Malfunctioning Appliances

Just like old pipes in your home can break, older appliances’ pipes can too. Over time, they wear and rust, becoming more susceptible to breakage. Focus on the appliances that frequently use water - such as your water heater, washing machine, dish washer, etc. - and make sure they’re properly functioning. The older the machine is, the more likely it is to malfunction.

Are you dealing with water damage? If you are (or have in the past), taking preventive measures in the future can help to avoid water damage altogether. However, to avoid further damage now, you’ll want to call the professionals - like us, here at The Steam Team - mold growth and water contamination pose huge risks to your health and should only be handled by people who know proper safety precautions.