Can water damage be prevented?

Most  insurance policies cover basic water damage claims up to the purchased limit.  But you know what’s a lot easier than going through the claims process? Preventing the water damage in the first place!

Check out these 6 suggestions for preventing water damage:

1. Be careful where you plant

We all want to beautify our property and increase curb appeal. However, some plants and trees, like weeping willows, have invasive roots. If you’re not careful, they’ll grow right into your sprinkler system, drainage field, pipes, and septic tanks. Plan before you plant to keep roots away from any water lines and prevent costly water damage in the future.

2. Clean out roof gutters

It is important to have your maintenance staff check your gutters regularly, especially during the fall and winter months. If you’re seeing lots of leaves, birds’ nests, sticks, and whatnot up there, your gutters may not be doing the job you hired them for. And on a rainy day, a clogged gutter can send water spilling into your property’s foundation, through the roof, or down to your basement. That could cause some serious water damage!

3. Keep an eye on your water bill

With so many water pipes hidden behind walls and in the floors on your property, you might not know there’s a leak until the damage is done. That’s why it’s a good idea to keep a close eye on your monthly water bill. If you see it starting to creep up, or get one that’s uncommonly high, it’s a pretty good sign that you may have a leak somewhere.

4. Use a drain snake instead of unclogging chemicals

Under any circumstance, sink and shower clogs are going to happen. Chances are at some point in your life you’ve used one of those powerful chemical drain cleaners to get things moving again. As convenient as they may be, most folks don’t realize those caustic chemicals are also eating away at their pipes (and they might not be too good for you either). If you rely on them a lot, you could be setting yourself up for leaks. That’s why owning a drain snake is a good solution to clear away clogs. They’re inexpensive– you can get them at your local hardware store, and they can cut through most any clog you’ll have without damaging pipes or making your eyes red and teary.

5. Never pour grease down your sink

You’ve probably heard this before, but you should avoid pouring grease down any sink on your property. It doesn’t matter if you flush it with hot or cold water. It can still congeal and cling to your pipes and could still cause some serious damage and blockage.  The safest thing to do is just to pour your grease in an empty can, and either let it sit or put it in the refrigerator. Once it hardens you can toss it in the trash and get rid of it. Done and done.

6. Protect your pipes

As the colder months approach, it is vitally important to insulate your exterior pipes sufficiently before the threat of a hard freeze. If water pipes freeze, they can burst and cause costly water damage throughout your property. To do this, head to a hardware store or your maintenance supplier and purchase pipe insulating elbows to place on any exterior pipes throughout your property.