Practical Tips to Avoiding a Flooded Home

5/3/2017 (Permalink)

Flooding always seems to happen when you least expect it. And oftentimes, it’s while you’re away, making a bad situation so much worse. Fortunately, there are some often overlooked practical tips to help prevent flooding, or to detect and correct it quickly if it does.

First, many of the water delivery systems in your house, such as your faucets and toilets, have individual valves. These valves are typically used to service the system or cut off water flow in an emergency or when you plan to be away for an extended period of time. Over time, these valves can deteriorate, themselves causing a flood. The corrosion can also cause the valve to not shut off, making it that much harder to control the water flow. If you see that your valves are beginning to corrode, or when testing your valves see they do not completely shut off water flow, a plumber or a knowledgeable DIYer can easily replace the valves with little effort.

Shower valves can also be a source of in-wall leakage that may not be readily detectable. Shower valves degrade over time and use, and since these are hidden within the wall, it is hard to inspect them. Speak to your plumber about the shower valve and consider replacing it when remodeling the bathroom, shower or tub.

Many large appliances such as our washing machines, dishwashers and refrigerators also get old and may show their age with a water leak. Tubing can leak, and depending on the pitch of the floor beneath the appliance, water may pool in corners of the room that are out of sight. Inspecting your appliances on a regular basis, or as recommended by the manufacturer, can help predict and avoid serious water issues.

You will also want to make sure that the main water shut-off valve (usually found outside of the house) is working properly as well. This valve system should be identified and tested as appropriate, and the valve should be replaced if it does not fully cut off water to the home.

Water heaters are a major source of water leakage. As they age, they tend to corrode and rust from the inside out. This, combined with potential build-up of pressure, can cause the water heater to leak or rupture once it reaches the end of its life. Water heaters should be serviced by a qualified technician on intervals suggested by the appliance manufacturer. If your current water heater is worse for wear, a new water heater is not only more reliable, but will likely heat water much more efficiently, giving you more hot water for less money.

There are various gadgets available in home improvement stores, some which can be connected to some security systems, that can detect water pooling on the floor and notify you via an audible alarm, an app or phone call. These devices can be strategically placed throughout the house, based on where they are most effective.

Once again, prevention is key in avoiding a water leak. But should you find yourself in this situation, SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh is here to help.