How To Protect Your Home From Water Damage

Did you know over 75% of Australian homeowners have experienced water damage? Over 20% of home insurance claims in Australia are for water damage incidents. Statistics show that insurance companies can pay as low as AUD$ 5,000 and up to AUD$ 500,000 for the most severe damages.

Since water damage can be destructive and expensive, how can you protect your home from this disaster? In this article, you’ll learn five essential tips to prevent water damage in your home. 

Inspect Your Plumbing

A faulty plumbing system often causes water damage. An unmaintained plumbing system can cause worn or damaged parts to leak. You can avoid this by keeping up with your plumbing system’s regular maintenance is essential. 

Scheduling regular preventive maintenance ensures all pipes, joints, and other essential plumbing parts are functional and damage-free. Also, it’ll help you spot potential plumbing damage. If there are any, you can fix them before they become more devastating. 

While regular inspection is advisable, you can contact reliable experts like Dan’s Plumbing at www.dansplumbing.com.au or similar ones near your area. These professionals can do a more comprehensive assessment at least once a year. It’ll help you save time while ensuring a more efficient and thorough plumbing inspection. 

Expert plumbers are well-trained and better equipped with the necessary tools to determine the health of your plumbing and spot even the slightest issue. If they find a problem, the best plumbers can resolve it immediately, ensuring that your plumbing system works at its best. 

Inspect The Roof & Gutters

It’s also best to make it a habit to inspect your roofing system. The roof over your head protects you against harsh weather. And a weather-tight roof helps protect your home and personal belongings against water damage. 

However, even the best roofing materials deteriorate with time. Weather conditions can make them prone to wear and damage, allowing water leaks. Regularly checking your roof and ensuring its weather resistance is crucial—particularly if you have an aging roof or if your area is prone to harsh weather.

Get a ladder and check your roof for any cracked, missing, or loose shingles. Gaps allow moisture to seep into your attic and ceiling. Make sure to fix or replace the loose ones immediately.

Clean your roof of any debris or moss that can cause premature rotting and damage to the roof materials. Also, remember to attend to your downspouts and gutters. These roofing parts drain and divert water from your roof and keep it away from your home’s foundation. 

Clogs can cause water to back up and accumulate on your roof or spill over and seep into the walls or foundation. Always keep your gutter clean and free of debris. Install tools to protect your drains. You can put a cover to prevent dirt from accumulating in your gutter. 

Caulk Gaps

Drafty windows and doors or gaps on fixtures allow water to seep where it shouldn’t be. In this case, you can use a caulking gun to seal cracks and holes to prevent water damage. It’s best to pay special attention to your windows and doors, where moisture accumulates.

Meanwhile, you can check your sinks, bathtubs, showers, and toilets for missing or cracked seals. Ensure to fill any holes or cracks you find, regardless of their size. 

Install A Water Detection System

Even with regular maintenance and inspection, water leaks can slip unnoticed, mainly if it occurs behind walls. Hidden leaks are one of the most destructive types of water damage since you’ll hardly notice them until you see significant damage.

Consider adding a water detection system to protect your home against this kind of water damage. These devices can detect slight moisture levels and alert you of hidden leaks. Adding a water detection tool near high-risk areas, including toilets, water heaters, and sump pumps, can benefit you. You can connect these sensors to your home security system or smartphone to provide real-time alerts. 

Get Extra Coverage

Regular homeowners’ insurance usually covers common water damage like a burst pipe. However, consider getting more comprehensive coverage or a separate insurance policy to protect your home better. It can be beneficial, especially if you live in flood-prone areas such as near rivers. Consult your insurance agent and check which policies offer water damage protection coverage and what kind of water damage it covers. 

Takeaway 

Water damage is no joke. It can compromise your family’s safety while causing significant damage to your home. Fortunately, you can avoid it in various ways. Following the above tips, you can keep moisture and water damage at bay and protect your home and family.