How Extensive Home Water Damage Can Really Be
Water damage can occur from nearly any water source, including some of the appliances that are in your home right now. Even a failed icemaker can cause water damage that can go beyond what you may initially think, especially if you are unaware that it has happened. Water damage is not something that you can take lightly as it can take a large toll on your belongings and your wallet.
The Most Common Causes of Water Damage
While flooding is among the most frequent and costly natural disasters in the U.S., it is not the only possible cause of water damage in your home. Here are just a few of the other possible sources:
- Leaky or failed roof
- Burst water pipes
- Faulty windows
- Broken water lines, including those outside of the home that can allow water to seep into the basement or crawl space
- Toilets, bathtubs, or sinks that overflow or are not sealed correctly
- Any appliance that uses water, including the washing machine, the dishwasher, and the refrigerator
What Kind of Water Are You Dealing With?
Different water means different types of clean up and different risk factors. Water from an overflowing sink is obviously different from an overflowing toilet. Both are different from flood water. There are three classifications of water:
- Clean: This is water from burst water pipes and from your ice maker.
- Gray: This is water that has a chance of being contaminated and can include things like water from your dishwasher, the washing machine, and an overflowing toilet (with obvious exceptions).
- Black: This is water that is highly likely to be contaminated with at least one type of germ that can make people sick. This includes flood waters, backed up sewers, unflushed toilets, and water that may have filtered past contaminants. Most of the items that are soaked in black water will need to be bagged up and thrown away rather than saved.
Assessing the Damage
When water damage has occurred, it is important to act quickly because the longer water is left to sit, the more harm it can do to your home. Here’s what to do when dealing with water damage issues:
- Get your insurance company on the phone. Have your policy number ready to speed up the process. They will send over someone to assess the damage and direct you through the best course of action.
- Take photos of the damage.
- Get rid of the water to prevent any more damage. Standing water should be drained away as quickly as possible because even clean water can become something more potentially hazardous in a short period of time.
- Once you start to clean up a flooded basement or mop up the water around an appliance, you will be able to get a better idea of the big picture in terms of what is going to need to be replaced and what is salvageable. Also, the sooner things dry out, the sooner the recovery process can begin.
- Outside of drying out the space, do not mess with too much without instruction from your insurance provider or water damage repair professionals.
If the water level has risen above any electrical outlets, DO NOT step foot in that water as electrocution could occur. In this case, call emergency services to help you safely remove the water.
Electronics and porous items such as carpeting, drywall and furniture are some pieces in danger of being destroyed during a flood. Carpets in particular are hard to deal with after a flood. Even when the carpet itself seems to have dried up without a problem, you may find that the padding underneath is ruined. Mold can grow on the underside of the carpet and will not make itself known for weeks or even months later. Carpets also tend to shrink once they have been flooded and then dried, which can be a problem as well.
Prevention Is the Key to Minimizing Water Damage
It is easier to prevent water damage than it is to clean it up after the act. Making sure that you are taking good care of appliances and pipes is one of the easiest things that you can do to prevent water damage, and it extends the life of the appliances as well. Here are some additional tips that you should know:
- Clean your gutters and inspect your roof at least twice per year. Gutters direct water out and away from your home’s foundation, but if they are clogged with debris, they cannot do that. While you are on the ladder, give your roof a quick scan. Visually scan the roof from the ground as well.
- Fix all leaky windows and doors. If the windows have a large gap in them, consider replacing them, which will save on energy costs as well.
- Do not overfill your washing machine, and check all of the hoses and connections on a regular basis. Always recheck if there has been an issue, such as an unbalanced load.
- Clean your dishwasher as suggested by the manufacturer to prevent accumulations of grease and food debris that can lead to backups.
- Regularly clean your drains with a vinegar and baking soda cocktail. First, add half a cup of regular baking soda into the drain. Add half a cup of vinegar, and allow it to bubble up. Plug the drain, and let this set for 15–20 minutes. Rinse it down with boiling water. Doing this every month or so keeps the drains running correctly without harsh chemicals.
- Insulate all pipes that could potentially freeze in the winter. Allow the faucet to drip at night, which will also keep the pipes from freezing up.
- Make sure that you are keeping your toilets clear of blockages and running correctly.
- If you live in a flood-prone area, take precautions as necessary to minimize flooding in your home and consider protecting your home with flood insurance.
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