Terri Ramsey Beavers The kind of damage caused by leaks in the home, whether it’s a matter of faulty piping or a roof gone rogue, is one of the most common dangers you will find in any household. Wear and tear affect all things in the home, but when it affects those parts of the home that cause leaks, then the damage done can be extensive. From flooding to water damage to dampness and mold, you need to know how to react to a leak decisively and effectively to keep your costs down. Here’s how you handle them.
Finding the fault
Whether you’re spotting new signs of mold and dampness in the home, but you don’t know the cause, or you’ve recently moved in or been away from the property for a long time and want to make sure that it’s in good help, learning to detect leaks is an important skill to have. Taking a water meter reading and foregoing water use for a while can help. If the reading has changed at all despite the fact that you haven’t used any water, that’s a good sign of a leak. Check faucets, toilets, the flapper valves at the bottom of the water tank, and whatever visible pipes you have to signs of water damage or moisture after having turned the main shut-off valve.
Making the fix
Naturally, if your pipes, faucets, and other plumbing are the problem, then getting in a plumber is going to be the right solution. You may have found what seems to be the source of the leak but, instead of patching it up to yourself, it’s good to get a professional assessment such as from the . They might be able to fix not only the leak itself but find the initial problems that are causing it. Sometimes, it’s down to simple pipe wear and tear. But some leaks have deeper causes. For instance, a leaking faucet might have its source in rubber washers that have become worn out due to too high a water temperature. Hiring a certified, insured plumber can help you get to the bottom of things.
Mind your head
Your plumbing isn’t the only source of a potential leak, of course. Water can from outside just as easily, often through the roof of the home. Perhaps a recent storm has damaged or dislodged a tile or flashing in the roof, allowing the rain to trickle its way inside. Perhaps debris, twigs, and leaves have been building up in the gutters, redirecting water beneath your roofing. If you spot any drips or mold growing from above, then the best thing to do is to check the attic and roof and hire a professional for a fix if necessary.
Act quickly on mold and water damage
If a leak has been allowed to cause extensive damage, then it can a lot of a hassle to take on. If you’re not thorough in eliminating mold and water damage from the home, then it can just as easily start spreading once again. This is especially true of mold. A mold remediation will ensure that any and all items affected by mold are removed from the home. This includes replacing things like drywall, moldy wood, and parts of the home, but also furniture and household items that have been infested. Mold isn’t just unpleasant smelling, it’s a serious danger to your health, able to cause and exacerbate respiratory issues like asthma and pneumonia. Act on it quickly for the sake of your family.
Make sure that you’re covered
To reduce the costs that leaks could force on you down the line, it’s wise to make sure that your home insurance policy takes them into account. You want to ensure that your policy covers weather damage, flooding, water backups, overflows, and sudden discharges. However, don’t assume that you’re covered, make the check and see for yourself. It’s also worth noting that you might not be able to file a water damage claim for slow leaks. Few insurers cover this risk, so you have to take on the task of detecting and acting on things like plumbing leaks yourself. Either way, you do need insurance if you don’t want to be covered for water damage and mold remediation yourself.
The one thing you shouldn’t do when you sense a leak, whether you spot new mold, see a drip, or have a new puddle to clean up, is to ignore it. The sources of those leaks, even if they only seem temporary or minor, are going to keep getting worse if you don’t handle it.