Protect Your Home From Water Damage

3/27/2019 (Permalink)

Did you know water damage can be one of the most common and costliest disasters your home may experience? Bursting pipes, malfunctioning appliances or storm damage are just some of the ways water can damage your home.

While water damage can be a common issue to deal with as a homeowner, there are things you can do to protect your home from these difficult scenarios.

How to Protect Your Home

Not only will you find that water damage is a big headache to deal with, but it can also have a long-term impact on your home—namely, mold. Mold can start to grow in as little as 24–48 hours of water exposure.

As you begin to think about ways to safeguard your home, break it down by areas of impact to make the task easier. 

You can prevent water damage from happening in the basement by checking for water seepage. Look for vulnerable areas of the basement that may need resealing, make sure water drains away from your home and install a backwater valve.

In the kitchen and bathrooms, water damage can occur due to plumbing and appliance failures.

Be sure to regularly:

• Inspect all appliances, correcting any issues with hoses and faucets
• Check all seals and caulking around your showers and tubs.
• Know where the main shut-off valve is in your home
• Only run the washing machine or dishwasher while you are home.

Protecting your possessions from water damage can’t always happen, but there are steps to take that may decrease the amount of loss. Using waterproof bins to store items is always advised and, if using your basement for storage, keep items stored on shelving off of the floor.

How to Start the Recovery Process

In the event you do encounter a water damage situation in your home, you can stand a good chance at salvaging items if they can be dried out within 48 hours.

Make sure that you immediately contact your insurance company and evaluate the extent of the water damage in your home.

You will want to quickly dry your home out and dehumidify it following a water damage disaster. Be sure to remove wet objects and disinfect remaining materials. Working with SERVPRO of Greater Northern Charleston simplifies the entire process from drying to insurance claim for you as you work to put your home back together. 

It may seem like recovering from water damage is an overwhelming and slightly impossible task, but it doesn’t have to be. You can call on the highly trained experts at SERVPRO® of Greater Northern Charleston, who are here to make it "Like it never even happened!"  We are here 24/7 ~ 843.552.1226.