Water Damage; Simple Steps To Protect Your Pocket

By Author: Leo Nov
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While there are many benefits to home ownership, taking the plunge and making a financial commitment to your new residence means that you are now responsible for what happens to that residence. You must take responsibility and prepare yourself for inevitable struggles, such as pest control, lawn maintenance, and water damage.

Whether by Mother Nature's hand, from a broken water pipe, or even by freak accident, water damage to your home is something that requires immediate action. It is fact that water damage accounts for twenty five percent of all American homeowner property losses. Beyond that, dangers from exposure to mold can affect anyone in many ways; from hay fever to chronic lung diseases. Nuisances such as insect infestation can quickly grow out of control, creating an expensive need for professional pest control services. Yes, water damage can be devastating. Therefore, it is important that precautions are taken before such an instance occurs, as well as immediate reaction following such an occurrence.

Preventative steps can include:

-Ensuring that all appliances that utilize water are in ...
... working order, and that all hoses are free of corrosion. Making the switch from the standard rubber hoses to newer, stainless steel varieties will reduce the risk of leaks.

-Making sure that seals on all windows and outside doors are tight. Keep caulk on hand for quick touch ups.

-Similarly inspecting faucets, tubs, showers, and toilets for leaks and damaged caulking.

-Maintaining your water heater, keeping an eye out for any sign of rust or corrosion.

-Winterizing all exterior faucets and pipes within especially cold climates.

-Turning off the water when leaving for vacation or any extended period of time. Hoses can burst while you are gone, thereby flooding your home.

-Locating and educating each household member on how to use the water shut off valve, in case of a sudden pipe break.

There are many precautions that you can take, but in the event that these tips fail, and you somehow befall the oft-costly necessity of restorative water damage repair, rest assured that there are some steps you can take to make the process as painless for your pocket as possible. You will want to take action immediately, as dry rot and mold can take up residence rather quickly.

Obviously, you are going to want to stop the source of the water before cleaning up the mess to make sure that no more damage will accrue, and that what damage has occurred can be minimized. However, do not attempt to take action on your own if the water contains sewage. In this instance, you will want to call a professional service that has the proper equipment to handle the dangerous toxins and bacteria.

It is a good idea to remove any items within the effected perimeter, and then soak up the water as much as possible. Cardboard and other paper products should be disposed of, to reduce the risk of mold growth. Some furniture will soak up large amounts of water as well, so isolation and inspection of these items is important.

For repairs to your home, it is necessary to wait for the go-ahead from your insurance company before you take on any big projects. Minimizing the damage by removing personal items can save you money in the long run, however by making major changes to your home; you might lose coverage by not complying with your insurance specifications. Some insurance companies require that you call upon a specific company for repairs. If you do not wait to find out what needs to be done, you could end up paying for more than you should.

In any case, your home and your homeowner rights are worth protecting. Take precautions and follow guidelines, so that your investment is guaranteed to last throughout time.
Leo Nov is an editorial staff member of RestorationSOS.com, a leading service provider for water damage cleanups. To learn more about water damage and water removal, visit RestorationSOS.com.