What Can I Do to Prevent My Home from Water Damage?
Are you concerned with how to protect your home from damages? When it comes to water issues, you will want to do everything you can to be proactive by taking the right precautions and preparations. In Florida, we are susceptible to heavy rains and extreme weather, especially during hurricane season, which can greatly damage or even destroy many properties, homes, and buildings. As a property insurance claims attorney in Miami, FL, we have helped many policyholders work with their insurance companies to recoup compensation for lost property due to water damage. To prevent water damage, you first need to understand some of the main causes of the damage. There are a few steps you can take to prevent water damage from destroying your home.
How to Prevent Flooding
Flooding can be caused by a range of events, but the most common is extreme weather. When we are hit with heavy rains, this can cause many streams and water runoff to overflow and make their way into people's homes. When flooding occurs, the damage can be catastrophic unless it is quickly mitigated. To prevent flooding from worsening or destroying your property, there are a few actions you can take. Consider installing a sump pump to remove water from low areas in your home. Also, use sealants or coatings to minimize the chance of water leaking in the interior spaces of your property. Many people that live close to the shore even build their homes on stilts to remove the flooding hazard.
How to Prevent Burst Pipes
Burst pipes are another cause of water damage. A burst pipe can damage walls, floors, and belongings. One of the first things you want to do when you notice a burst pipe is turn off the water source. This will prevent any additional damage, and then you can start to drain the water from your home. One of the main causes of burst pipes are the exposure to freezing temperatures, which is not a concern for many people that live in Florida. For those that do have external pipes or are at risk for colder temperatures, you can prevent burst pipes by adding insulation around your pipes, leaving cabinet doors open, or keeping water faucets running during spouts of freezing weather.
How to Prevent Plumbing Issues
If your plumbing hasn't been properly set up, it can result in issues that cause damage to your floors or walls. Also, if you have overflowing sinks or toilets, this can cause water damage that may be difficult to fully eradicate. Any moisture that is trapped can eventually lead to hazardous mold growth that you'll want to remove. Having a routine plumbing inspection is one great way to ensure that your plumbing issues don't cause any water damage, flooding, or leaking into your home. If you have noticed an recurring problems, you'll want to fix those immediately to prevent the issue from worsening.
How to Prevent HVAC Overflow
When a drain pipe leading to or away from the HVAC system in your home is broken or leaking, it can cause overflow. This can also be caused by a clogged condensate drain pipe. If you notice that the pan around your HVAC pipes has been filling up, this can indicate an issue that needs to be immediately addressed before it overflows.
How to Prevent Water Valve Leaks
Another common issue that creates water damage is whenever a shower or tub valve is constantly leaking. Whether this is due to faulty installation or human error, it can result in overflowing tubs or other unseen problems, such as mold growth. If you notice, or hear, any leaking in your bathroom, you'll want to have this quickly repaired before the issue worsens. Typically, these problems can be quickly repaired by homeowners. You'll want to turn off the water at the source, then locate the area of the leak. At this point, you should disconnect the nuts and bolts and replace the washer. Be sure that you use a wrench to tightly secure everything back together. If this doesn't fix your leak, you may need the help of a professional.
How to Prevent Clogged Gutters
Another major issues that can cause devastating damage to your home or building is when you have clogged gutters. Gutters that are not routinely cleaned will become full of branches, debris, dirt, and other issues that can cause water to overflow and drain improperly. When your gutters are overflowing, water will run down the side of your home, which can damage the foundation of your home. If your foundation is water damaged, the entire structure of your home may be comprised. Clogged gutters can also lead to pooling on the roof, which can cause leaking or even roof collapse. All of these repairs are extremely expensive and difficult to negotiate with insurance companies, even with the help of a property insurance claims attorney in Miami, FL. One of the best lines of defense against water damage caused by clogged gutters is routine maintenance and care. You should have your gutters cleaned or clean them yourself every other year. This will properly remove any debris, branches, or other items that can cause major water damage.
These are some of the steps you can take to prevent or mitigate damages that can be caused by water issues in your home or business. When you take the right steps to prevent damage, your insurance company will look at those actions favorably. As you work through the insurance process, you may come to certain challenges or headaches that are difficult to deal with. This is when you'll want to trust the advocacy of our experienced property insurance claims attorney in Miami, FL. Contact us to hear about our law services to help you with your insurance claims process today.