Water damage is something that every homeowner desperately wants to avoid. As we all know, water is meant to be in pipes, sinks and basins, not around your house. It would never run-in places that you can see like your walls, floors or crawl spaces. But the good news is that simple repairs and maintenance can help you avoid all those disasters from happening.
Inspect Your Sinks and Drains
One of the best tips on maintaining your plumbing is keeping your sinks and drains in amazing condition. That is done by getting rid of all the grease and gunk from your drains. Flushing it with cold or hot water doesn’t do anything if you already have blocked drains. Maintenance should be done with drain cleaners. But keep in mind that you shouldn’t use it very often, only for maintenance as it can eat away your pipes and make them leak.
Prevent Future Clogging
Clogs aren’t something that should be taken lightheartedly. All the backed-up water will put added pressure on the pipes and shorten their lifespan. One of the best ways to stop that from happening is simply watching what you are putting down the drains. Don’t throw away scraps of food down your drains and don’t flush things that aren’t supposed to be flushed. The trick is to install screens over your drains in tubs and sinks so even if things fall into them, they won’t get into the drains. Make sure that you are cleaning the screens regularly for your own sake. Scrape off the leftover food into a trashcan before you put it into the sink, even if you have a disposal. Another really important thing is that you should never pour grease down your drains. That is because grease becomes solid when it cools down, therefore it will clog your drain.
Reduce the Water Pressure
As much as we all like high pressure when we’re taking showers or filling up pots, it is something that really stresses the pipes which increase the likelihood of leaks. It is something that instantly reduces the life-span of your pipes. That is because it makes the pipe joints and valves work much harder than they need to. But what a common mistake with this is, is that people install low-flow appliances which don’t affect the pressure in pipes. It only affects the amount of water that comes out the faucet itself.
Shut Off Your Water Main While Away
When you know that you are not going to be at home for a longer period of time, make sure that you shut off your water main. During your trip, there are so many things and leaks that can happen. When no one is home, even a small leak could cause a lot of damage because it won’t be noticed. Therefore, to make sure that there are no accidents, turn off your water flow.
Monitor Your Water Bill
Checking your water bill regularly will help you get an estimate on how much water you are spending per month. If you see that your bill is higher than usual, that means that there might be a leak somewhere. It can be something as simple as your toilet tank leaking into the toilet or something as complicated as a broken pipe. So, you might only need to call the professional Canberra plumber to do simple toilet repairs or you’ll need to replace all of the piping in your home.
Know Where Your Water Shut-off Valves Are
In case there is an emergency and you need to shut off your water, you must be prepared and know where all the shut-off valves are located. Know where your whole house water shut off as well as shouts for your heaters, sinks and toilets. You must turn off the water if you see that there is a leak. Make sure that you are testing all the valves every year so you are sure they work properly.
Soften Up Your Water
Hard water also known as water that is high in mineral content, shortens the lifespan of your plumbing. Those minerals are usually calcium or magnesium and they will build-up on the inside of the pipes which will restrict flow and later on make your pipes burst. The only way you can deal with hard water is to install a water softener. They are electronic softeners and they use electromagnetic pulses to dissolve minerals.
Install Leak Detectors
As its name says, a leak detector is an electronic device that detects leaks. As it detects water it will set off the alarm. They come in so many different sizes, shapes and they have a range of features. Some have phone alerts, temperature sensors and smart home integrations while others just have the alarm. They come in two categories, area detectors and spot detectors.
Area detectors use sensor wires to stop floods and they cover a more extensive area. While spot detectors need to have actual contact with water to trigger the alarm. There are also active and passive flood alarms. Active alarms can be integrated into the water system and they shut off the water supply when it sensors the leak. The passive alarms are placed at high-risk potential flooding areas. But keep in mind that passive alarms require you to shut off the valve yourself as well as change out its batteries.
Install a Water Flow Monitoring System
Just like you can install a leak detector you can install a device that will record your water flow and keep you updated. When something is wrong and there is too little or too much water flow it will automatically stop the water. It is installed next to your water line so it doesn’t require you to cut any pipes or risk ruining anything. It can also use ultrasonic technology that will identify leaks before they happen so it will prevent you from having to deal with severe water damage in your home. Having a water flow monitoring system will also help you improve your water efficiency and bring your costs to a minimum.
Fix the Caulking Around Your Home
To avoid any floods from happening, make sure that your windows are doors are caulked well rough. If you notice that there is even a slight crack or that there is a hole, make sure that you caulk it right away. Signs of water leakage can be bubbled paint, mould spots and crumbling drywall. When there are strong rains and wind, water can easily get into your home. That is why you need to ensure that you also add weather stripping as an additional layer of protection.
Make Sure That You Clean Your Gutters and Downspouts
Something that a lot of people neglect is their gutters, and that is why they have floods in their homes. Cleaning your gutters every month or so will avoid it getting blocked. Staring at can do a lot of damage to your home. Clogged gutters can send water down the side of your house as well as running your roof and attic. Make sure that your gutters are clean especially during winter cancer of the ice dams that are forming.
Install Gutter Guards
Installing a gutter guard is something that will help you a lot. It is made to process your gutters from getting clogged and no water flows into your home or ruins the foundation. As we have said above, gutters need to be cleaned regularly because they get clogged with dead leaves, nests, and branches. Gutter guards will prevent them from clogging and you have to clean them constantly. It is much safer and easier to have them than cleaning everything on your own.
Decline Your Soil
One of the best ways you can stop your home from flooding is moving the soil around it to decline it. Your goal is for the soil to ramp down away from your foundation wall. By packing the soil, you are encouraging the water to move along with the top instead of soaking into it all the way. When you create a downward slope away from your home you are encouraging the water to go into the opposite direction.
Don’t Flush Random Things
Sometimes it can be really tempting to flush something down the toilet, but no matter if it’s something small or strong chemicals you shouldn’t flush them. By flushing things down your toilet that isn’t supposed to be flushed, you are making a clog in the int and even damaging your pipes. Always throw garbage into a trash can and don’t pour chemicals that aren’t supposed to go in the toilet. Keep your toilet lid closed to prevent things from accidentally falling into it and if you have children make sure they are supervised while in the bathroom.
In the end, it is important that you prevent water damage from happening before it’s too late. Do everything you can to reduce the risks of water damage, flooding and having burst pipes. Take preventative measures and you will lessen the chances of destructive damage which will save you much more money in the long run.
