Mention water damage
and most people think of flooding after days of heavy downpours. Yet, even
on a sunny day, your home can become waterlogged. Whether the culprit is
a leaking water heater, overloaded washing machine, or an overflowing sink,
the damage to your home can be devastating—and costly. These tips, developed
from research conducted by the CPCU Society’s Northeast Louisiana Chapter,
will help keep your home dry, and will reduce the likelihood of claims in
your homeowner’s policy.
What are some causes of water damage?
Several modern-day
conveniences can develop problems that lead to water damage. Some of the
most common troublespots are:
Appliances
The most common source for water damage is the water heater, followed by
the clothes washer and the air conditioning unit. The age of an appliance
is a major factor. For example, over time, water haters rust on the bottom.
Damage can be particularly heavy when the leaky water heater is located upstairs
or in an attic.
Hoses
Appliance hoses deteriorate from the inside out. Rubber hoses consist
of two layers of rubber with a cloth fiber inside that deteriorates with
time. Hoses with external stainless steel braided wire may cost as little
as $5 more than rubber-fiber hoses, but can be as much as 10 times less likely
to fail.
Pipes and Drains
Common problems include stoppages of toilets and drains (especially kitchen
drains, where grease can build up), stoppages of garbage disposals, clogging
of air conditioner lines, stoppages of drains from clothes washers due to
lint accumulation, and deterioration and bursting of water lines to clothes
washers. Roots in sewer lines cause problems as well. In addition, in older
homes, cast iron and copper pipes are often installed next to each other.
As the copper corrodes the cast iron, they will eventually break.
How can you prevent or reduce water-related losses to your home?
- Know where the
main water shutoffs to your home are located. Also, install water shutoff
valves on water lines under sinks and toilets, and leading to outside faucets.
- React quickly to
small leaks around water heaters, refrigerators, dishwashers, and other appliances
before they become more troublesome ones.
- Know—and follow—the
recommended maintenance procedures for your appliances, such as periodically
draining the water heater to clean out the sediment at the bottom of the
tank.
- Check clothes washer
hoses for signs of deterioration, and replace hoses that show any evidence
of cracking. Also, before you leave home for an extended period, shut off
the water valve leading to the clothes washer.
- Use plenty of water
when operating garbage disposals so that waste is flushed out of the system.
- Be aware of what
goes down drains (grease, lint, and dirt in particular).
- Don’t wash heavy-duty
dirt down drains, and don’t put extremely dirty clothing in clothes washers.
Instead, use a garden hose on the soiled item outside the house, so that
the dirt doesn’t get into the drainage system inside the house.
- When a problem
does arise, hire an established contractor who has a good reputation.
- When a plumber
is at the house to make repairs, have him or her conduct a quick check on
other appliances, drains, and pipes to ensure that everything is in proper
working order.
- Don’t leave the
room after you have turned on the water, especially full force, in the bathtub
or a sink.
- Consider buying
a water detector. This relatively new product, similar to a smoke detector
in function and in price, sounds an alarm when it detects a leak. They range
in sophistication from simple models costing less than $20 each to more elaborate
alarms that can be tied into a central station. Placed on the floor near
such items as water heaters and air conditioners, they could alert you to
a leak before serious damage occurs.
If you are building a new home or remodeling an older one, consider these
suggestions:
- Install a floor
drain for the laundry room and include a separate drain for the clothes washer.
Should a problem occur, these drains would help to prevent damage to the
rest of the house.
- Because they are
designed to pump very large volumes of water out in a hurry, new appliances
such as dishwashers and clothes washers can quickly overload the drainage
system in an older home. Therefore, have the drainage checked to confirm
that it can handle the additional load.
- Make sure contractors
pay attention to clearances in case you need to remove water heaters and
similar appliances in the future. In addition, allow adequate room inside
walls so that plumbing repairs will be less difficult. Also, locate water
lines in easily accessible areas that extend over the shortest possible distances
throughout the home.
- Consider purchasing
your dealer’s extended warranty. Periodic checks of an appliance and routine
maintenance can help prevent a malfunction that could potentially cause major
damage to your home.
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