Taking Precautions to Prevent Water Damage in Naples

8/13/2021 (Permalink)

When water takes over your home, call in our IICRC certified technicians for water removal services.

Prevent Water Damage by Taking the Following Precautions

When you consider water damaging your home, you might think about torrential rain, a hurricane, or other natural catastrophes. The reality, unfortunately, is that damage can be caused by household appliances failing. These events can be just as destructive as a significant weather event. 

Water damage accounts for billions of dollars in damages each year for renters and homeowners. It is also responsible for around twenty-five percent of property insurance claims, and data has suggested that water is ten times more likely than fire to damage your Naples home. SERVPRO, a professional water damage restoration company, can help you in the event of a water damage emergency in your home. 

Preventing Water Damage in Your Home

There are steps you can take to help prevent water damage and protect your Naples home. It is good to understand some common causes of water damage. These include leaky air conditioning condensation drains, baseboard heating, water heater, plumbing, and washing machine hose failures. These appliances don’t always give you warning signs until the damage has happened already. Therefore, you need to check them regularly. Below are steps to help you do just that. 

First, know where the water main is in case of an emergency. If you are away from home for a time, shut off the water supply and drain all pipes. If your home has an aging steam heating system, speak with your heating professional to figure out if turning off the water supply is safe. If a fire sprinkler system protects your home, don’t turn the water off to this system. 

Have your air conditioning system inspected by a professional regularly. Get the lines checked annually and clean them when they are clogged. Also, inspect showers, water heaters, sinks, toilets, and dishwashers annually. Get them repaired if there are signs of corrosion or leaking. Install water heaters in areas with floor drains when possible to lower damage if leaks do occur. If water damages your home, SERVPRO can come immediately to help you clean it up. 

Check caulking around bathtubs, showers, toilet and sink bases, and repair as needed. If your refrigerator has a water or ice dispenser, the hose connecting it to the fridge should be constructed of braided copper to reduce the chances of corrosion and cracking. Inspect pipes for leaks and cracks and have pipe damaged fixed right away to prevent more expensive repairs in the future. Lastly, check plumbing fittings and appliance hoses for crimping, breakage, or bending. 

Even when you are diligent in maintaining your home, water leaks and damages still happen sometimes. When this happens, get in touch with us at SERVPRO of Naples / Marco Island right away to assess the water damage. All you have to do is call us at any hour at (239) 302-5700, and we can have a professional technician to your home quickly so remediation can begin.