Water Damage Prevention Tips

Preventing home water damage can seem to be redundant and time-consuming, but it definitely beats the alternative. Taking the right preventative measures, such as fixing any faulty plumbing early on and redirecting rainwater away from your home, can save you from the headache of disastrous water damage. If water damage does strike your house, it is important to know the signs in order to catch it early on. The longer it sits, the more damaging, time-consuming, expensive, and stressful it will become. Water damage can start small and suddenly become a disastrous mess, destroying everything in its path. If you can keep an eye out for the signs of premature water damage, you could save yourself a lot of trouble. These include:

• Faulty Paint

If your paint begins to bubble, peel, chip, or show any evidence of discoloration, that’s one of the easier signs of water damage to identify. The same goes for loose or peeling wallpaper. This means that the adhesive quality of the paint or wallpaper are being worn down or diluted by water, essentially showing the sign of water entering into your walls. Time to start looking for that leak.

• Cracked Caulk

Whether in the bathroom or the kitchen, deteriorating caulk around the base of your sink faucet is another sneaky sign of water damage. You may not realize that your sink is leaking until you have a big, moist mess underneath your sink, if you can spot it early by paying attention to the caulk, you can prevent that from ever happening. Cracked caulk around your windows can also be an indication that your window frames and/or home siding aren’t as waterproof as it needs to be. This can mean water seeping into your home through the window. If either your windows or your walls are absorbing moisture, they can expand, creating significant problems as it worsens.

• Damp Doors

If you’re noticing that your doors (or windows, for that matter) are becoming increasingly difficult to open or close, that could be a result of them taking on water like a sponge. Wood windows and doors are clearly the most susceptible to this sneaky sign of water damage.

• Damaged Foundation

Many homeowners probably don’t give their foundation a second thought. Even if there is a big crack, most might just think “concrete is tough, I’m sure everything is fine”. If your foundation is cracked, everything is most definitely not fine. It’s the foundation of your home! Any amount of cracking should be a concern. The cracked foundation could be a result of water seeping in. This could likely be a result of improper drainage from gutters and downspouts, among other sources.

• Funky Odors

Eventually, water damage will start to emit a musty, mildewy smell. Additionally, mold spores may be causing congestion and trouble breathing. Listen to your nose, it is on your side. If you suspect water damage — it’s always better to be safe with an inspection than sorry with a water damage headache. For emergency water damage restoration, contact the professional and certified team at Lamunyon Cleaning & Restoration. They are available 24/7 for your convenience.