Every single year in the United States, hundreds of thousands of homeowners file billions of dollars worth of insurance claims for water-related damage to their homes, says Liberty Management team. Each year, water damage payouts take up a huge chunk of total insurance payouts in the entire USA.
This is a huge cost to pay for avoidable problems. Unless caused by a major natural disaster, most water damage in homes can be prevented. Often, this does not happen because homeowners do not know what to do or don’t realize the seriousness of the problem.
This post highlights the steps to prevent water disasters in your home. By following the recommendations here, you will save yourself a lot of time, trouble, and stress. In addition to boosting your home’s value, the advice in this post may even reduce your insurance premium.
Identifying the sources of water disasters in the home
Apart from extreme natural events, what are the likely causes of water disasters in your home?
Faulty plumbing
This is the number one cause of plumbing disasters in homes. The issues are often caused by poor installation, inadequate maintenance, and aging pipes.
Appliance malfunctions
Overflowing drip pans, clogged drain lines, and damaged hoses are the main ways that HVAC systems and appliances cause water disasters in your home.
Roofing issues
Roof problems of all kinds may cause water damage in your home. Broken gutters and downspouts that are discharging in the wrong location can also cause problems.
Damaged water heaters
A leak in your water heater tank, inlet or outlet pipes, drain valve, and TPR valve can cause major water damage to your home.
Frozen/burst pipes
Freezing winter temperatures may freeze the water inside your plumbing, placing enormous strain on pipes which can cause them to crack
Neglecting to do maintenance
Your home is more likely to experience a water disaster if you ignore plumbing problems or cut corners when fixing the issues.
How to prevent water disasters in your home
Here are the key steps that will help you to avoid water disasters in your home:
Check for leaks regularly
Inspecting your pipes, faucets, and connections periodically can help you identify the early warning signs of an impending water disaster.
Adequate water heater maintenance
Monitoring your water heater’s performance will let you detect small changes that may signal bigger issues in the system.
Insulate pipes
Insulate exposed pipes in the unheated spaces in your home to protect them from sub-zero temperatures. Also, learn how to properly winterize your home.
Address issues at once
Neglecting the problems in your plumbing gives the problems time to grow into huge issues that can cause water damage to your home.
Monitor water pressure
Excessive water pressure is a major cause of burst pipes and weakened connections, resulting in leaks and water disasters in the home.
Find your main water shut-off valve
Knowing the location of the main water shut-off valve can make a huge difference during a plumbing disaster in your home.
How professional plumbers prevent water disasters
Professional inspections
In addition to inspecting your plumbing by yourself on a monthly or quarterly basis, you need a professional plumber to inspect the home’s plumbing system at least once every year. This is the most essential step for preventing plumbing disasters.
Plumbing repairs and upgrades
To make your plumbing more resilient, a professional plumber can recommend necessary upgrades for the system. These upgrades keep the plumbing up-to-code while also optimizing its performance.
Leak detection
Professional plumbers use specialized tools to find hidden leaks in your plumbing. They also use them to pinpoint the exact location of a known leak. Leak detection prevents water wastage and further water damage.
Pipe assessment and replacement
A professional plumber helps you avoid wasting money on repairs that will not last. Instead of ineffective solutions applied randomly, an expert plumber can assess the system and advise you on the most cost-effective remedies.
Basement flooding services
Basement flooding, from home appliances like water heaters and washing machines or heavy rainfall, is a major cause of water disasters in homes. A professional plumber can ensure that your home is adequately protected from this problem.
Backflow prevention
Backflow is an invisible plumbing problem often accompanied by serious health problems for the people living in the home. Because it is so hard to detect, the best way to deal with this issue is to install backflow prevention devices in the house.
Sewer line maintenance
Proper sewer line maintenance, including annual sewer camera inspections and professional drain cleaning, will help you avoid plumbing disasters like sewer line clogs and backups.
Lastly, you need a reliable emergency plumber for timely responses. When faced with a plumbing emergency in your home, you should call an emergency plumber, not a regular plumber. Emergency plumbers are specifically set up to handle water disasters in the house.