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EASY HOME INSPECTION TIPS TO PREVENT WATER DAMAGE

Leaky pipes, warn out appliances or natural disasters can all cause of water damage. Some culprits are more damaging than others. Dealing with water damage big or small can be daunting and expensive. However, performing a quick inspection in high risk areas of your home can dramatically reduce your chances of experiencing water damage. Keep on reading to find out how to perform a water damage prevention check in your laundry room, bathroom and outside your home.

Laundry Room:

  1. First, make sure you know how to turn off the water supply to your home in case of an emergency. Usually it’s in your front yard near the street.
  2. Check the condition of the hoses behind your washing machine. Do this while your machine is running to make sure there aren’t any leaks.
  3. While your machine is still in use check underneath of it to ensure it’s dry.
  4. On front loading machines, check the seal around the door and the auto lock function.

Bathroom:

  1. Run your faucets to make sure there aren’t any leaks.
  2. Make sure toilets are secure to the floor and the tank is secure to the toilet.
  3. Flush toilets and check around the base to ensure there aren’t any leaks. Look under tank and in your basement for leaks caused by your toilet as well.
  4. Check the feeder tank on your toilet to make sure pipes and seals are in good condition.
  5. Make sure the shut off valve under the tank on your toilet is sealed.
  6. Run the bathtub faucets for 5 minutes to make sure there aren’t any leaks around the bottom of the tub.
  7. Pay special attention to the shower diverter to make sure it’s working properly.
  8. Run the shower for a few minutes and check around the faucet for leaks.
  9. Check around water heater for leaks or moisture. The drain pan should be free of debris.
  10. It is always a good idea to shut off water if you find a leak until it’s repaired.

Outside:

  1. Inspect your roof for cracks or missing shingles.
  2. Check around your chimney to ensure that the caulking is in good condition.
  3. Remove debris from your gutter system and look for existing damage.
  4. Direct downspouts away from your home.
  5. Look around windows and doors for any gaps or damage. Any opening to your home should be able to shut securely.
  6. Slope yard away from your home to ensure that rainwater has an escape route.
  7. Avoid planting greenery with invasive roots near pipes.

We hope these inspection tips help to prevent water damage in your Germantown home. If you have pre-existing water damage, ServiceMaster of Germantown can help. For 25 years, our local community has trusted us in their time of need. You can expect our expert technicians to arrive on time and communicate with you throughout the restoration process. Contact us at 901-854-6225 for 24/7 emergency water damage cleanup services. The longer you wait, the more damage your home will collect.

Photo by: © Dmitry Kalinovsky | Dreamstime.com

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