Water Damage: 3 Ways to Protect Yourself
You cannot save your home from every type of water damage. Some are simply unexpected, random events. However, many different problems can cause water damage that you can prevent from happening or minimize the damage. Here are a few ways to avoid home insurance claims due to water damage:
Water damage 101: Take Care of Your Roof
One of the ways that water can enter and damage your home is through your roof. If your roof is in a state of disrepair and repairs are not made, water can seep in through the damaged or missing tiles or shingles. This will lead to a leak and, ultimately, water damage. We recommend you have your roof inspected at least once a year.Preferably in the summer or fall, before harsh winter weather hits. If there are any problems, this gives you time to make repairs. If it has been an unusually wet or windy winter, you may want to consider having it inspected to ensure your roof has held up.
Maintain Your Plumbing System
Another common culprit for water damage in a home is an outdated plumbing system. Your plumbing system can wreak havoc on your home in a variety of ways. An old pipe can burst behind a wall or a toilet can overflow. There are many different ways that you should maintain your plumbing system. Some include:
Not flushing certain items, such as feminine hygiene products or paper towels
Keeping items out of your garbage disposal that can cause clogs, such as pasta, rice and fruit and vegetable peels
Have pipe cleaning done every few years to prevent clogs
Have your old pipes inspected for signs of leaks or damage
Repair minor plumbing problems before they turn into larger ones
Ensure Your Yard Drains Away From Your Home
The last tip for preventing water damage to your home is to ensure your yard drains away from your home. If it is sloped into your home, or water puddles near the foot of your home, foundation or siding, problems can emerge. A landscaping company can help you grade the yard away from your home, install French drains to keep the water away or plant plants with deep root systems that absorb the water before damage occurs.Taking care of your roof, properly maintaining your plumbing system and ensuring your yard drains away from your home are just a few of the ways you can minimize the likelihood that you will have to file a home insurance claim.
Tips to Avoiding Water Damage
A few more general tips to avoiding water damage include:
Make sure the water line to your icemaker is properly installed. The water supply line going to the ice maker is a common culprit for breaking and flooding the kitchen.
When you leave for vacation turn of the water supply going to the house so you don’t come home to a flooded house.
Unfortunately, you cannot stop an unexpected pipe from bursting or torrential rain from flooding your home. Because of this, you want to ensure you are fully covered with both the right amount of home insurance and flood insurance.If you are not sure if you have the right level of coverage or if you have flood insurance, call Brashears Insurance today. Let our agents help you find the right policy to fully protect your home against the unexpected. Swing by our office or give us a call today to get started.