Rain, Rain Go Away!

5/29/2018 (Permalink)

Flood waters receding

It's spring and Mother Nature has a lot to say. Spring storms can cause a tremendous amount of damage to your home, in a small amount of time, but it is not only storms that caused that damage.  There are many reasons that water can cause damage to your home.  According to the institute of business and home safety, homes over 30 years old are three times more likely to have a major plumbing or drain problems.  Some studies have shown that 75% of water heaters also fail within the first 12 years.  While this study only covered homes over 30 years, new homes are not excluded from issues either.

                There are some signs to look for when examining your home or a home that you may be looking to purchase:

                Look up- Look for water spots forming on your ceiling they may look like small to large brown rings.  You can also press on these spots they will be soft to the touch. This is to see if they may be formed from a recent leak.

                Feel for soft spots- While we do this for spots in the ceiling, it is also important to watch for these on the floor as well. The floor may sag a little when you are walking to the shower or be soft around the base of the toilet.  This can happen not only in the bathroom, but anywhere within the house.  This could be from current or previous water damage the wet floor or subfloor could be wet and causing the floor to rot.

                Look for rust-  Rust on your hot water tank could indicate a small leak. It is suggested to flush your hot water tank and it will prevent sediment build up.

                Step Outside- After a good rain step outside and inspect the ground around your home.  Is your home landscaped for proper drainage or does the water gather around the base of your home?

                Inspecting your roof-  Inspection of your roof is very important, particularly after a heavy storm.  The combination of high winds, rain and sometimes hail could be detrimental to the life of your roof.  Watch for missing shingles, damaged flashing and pools of water.

                Smell- Odor caused by mold or mildew that could be linked to some kind of water damage inside your house that may have passed unnoticed or unintentionally mistreated.

                Once water damage has happened the clock starts ticking.  The water problem can quickly worsen, causing secondary damage like mold.  When your property has a water damage you don't have the luxury of waiting around to hope that it dries out on its own so call the professionals to get help.  Secondary damage can begin as early as 24 to 48 hours.  Mildew spores are everywhere, but need moisture and a food source to develop. That is just what your wet carpet and drywall offers.  So proper and timely treatment of the water damage is important.

                It is important to note that not all water damages are treated equally.  Each cause of origin has its own standards as far as treatment and coverage.  It is always important to contact your insurance company immediately for them to determine your policy for coverage.