5 Common Causes Of Water Damage

Water damage refers to when unwanted water makes its way into a property and causes damage. This situation can cause severe damage to valuables and property itself. Water damage be caused by different reasons, such as natural calamities and broken water pipes. If you’re looking forward to protecting your property against water damage, here are the common causes and how to prevent them.

Table of Contents

#1: Water Leaks

Water leaks are the most common causes of property water damage. Leaks occur when the pipes are disconnected, old, or corroded. Other common causes of water leaks are high temperatures, water pressure, and broken pipes.

Unfortunately, a homeowner might not always discover where the water leaks because they can occur under walls, ceilings, and floors. In such a case, the homeowner notices the leaks after they’ve caused considerable damage to their property. Signs of water leaks include mold and mildew growth, yellow patches on the ceiling and walls, wet carpets, and a damp smell.

Preventing water leaks is much more straightforward. All you need is to schedule regular plumbing maintenance to correct the existing issues and pinpoint underlying problems that could result in water damage in the future. During maintenance, the plumber will determine if your plumbing is functional and requires replacement or repairs and act accordingly.

Suppose you’re dealing with water leaks that have damaged your carpet. It would be best to reach out to water damage specialists that are available to help with the clean up and dry it correctly. Water-damaged carpets are challenging to handle and require professional help.

#2: Severe Weather

Natural disasters like storms and hurricanes occur occasionally. However, despite not happening daily, they cause massive property water damage once they do. Heavy winds, rains, and floods characterize storms and hurricanes. These elements can damage your roof and walls, allowing water to enter into your property and cause tremendous damage.

Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do to prevent severe weather from causing water damage to your property. The best way to overcome this is by evacuating your home to stay safe until the disaster ends.

#3: Malfunctioning Appliances

With time, appliances get older, and their pipes corrode and weaken. This results in leaks that could end up damaging your property. For example, a leaking dishwasher might leave considerable water on your kitchen floors. A dishwasher could leak due to broken doors, worn gaskets, or clogged drains. A leaking dishwasher might damage your kitchen floors, especially if you have wooden flooring, or interfere with your wall painting and electrical wiring.

The best way to prevent your dishwasher from leaking is by avoiding buildup. This is possible by running a quarter of vinegar through the machine monthly. Scrapping and rinsing the machine before loading it can also prevent buildup.

If you’re dealing with water damage caused by a leaky washing machine, the issue could be leaky hoses. This type of leak usually begins as a minor issue but later becomes severe. Installing a valve shutoff kit can prevent your washing machine from leaking.

A refrigerator produces great volumes of water that can pool around it and become a water damage situation. Refrigerator drain lines could clog and cause water leakage. If water leaks from the pipe supplying the ice machine, it could result in flooding.

To prevent this from happening, insulate the refrigerator correctly. You should also avoid moving the fridge regularly and check for leaks occasionally.

#4: Clogged Gutters

Clogged gutters are another culprit for property water damage. Many homeowners neglect their gutters, allowing leaves, ice, sludge, and other debris to accumulate. As a result, the blockage interferes with water flow, leading to a pool. Once water collects in the gutters, it overflows along the walls. Besides damaging the walls, the overflowing water might pool around your home’s foundation and seep into the basement.

The solution to this problem is cleaning the gutters and preventing debris accumulation. Many roofers and tree specialists advise cleaning gutters at least twice a year. Besides cleaning, you could also install gutter guards to prevent debris from accessing the vent.

#5: Blocked Toilets

A blocked toilet can also cause water damage when the drainage is obstructed with solid waste like sanitary towels, hair, and soap particles. Blocked toilets can cause severe water damage, as the water is contaminated and can pose a health hazard.

Preventing toilets from causing water damage is relatively easy. All you need is to unclog the toilet, avoid flushing solid waste, and maintain your drainage system.

Conclusion

A water damage situation isn’t something you’d want to deal with. It can be devastating, depending on its severity. Fortunately, most causes of water damage are preventable. All you need is to maintain your plumbing system, avoid clogging drainage, and ensure your appliances are in perfect working condition.