Water damage is the leading cause of foundation weakness in your office and home; it also weakens the core that holds the building together. This could result in structural damage that will cost you thousands of dollars to repair.
Damp wood promotes mold growth and attracts termites and carpenter ants. Water damage in your home or property is an emergency that must be addressed immediately. If you do not deal with the water immediately, it may cause so much damage that you lose your belongings.
If you have a burst pipe or other water leaks in your home or office, you should contact water damage restoration services.
What Causes Water Damage
Below are the most common causes of water damage in homes, offices, and general buildings:
- Broken line under the sink
- Clogged toilet
- A water heater
- A split hose that is connected to an appliance
How to Prevent Water Damage to Your Home and Office
Here are some tips to help you avoid water damage so you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars fixing up your house or office:
1. Make Sure You Have Good Drainage
Many homeowners ask why this matters: The answer is that poor drainage makes your foundation weak, which may lead to uneven settling, cracks, and pathways for water to enter your office or home.
Check out the lists on how to ensure good drainage:
- A clogged gutter will send water down the side of your house, this will damage your foundation and siding. That’s why you have to clean your gutters regularly.
- Make sure that the downspouts direct the water 6 to 10 feet away from your building.
- Ensure that the yard is sloped at least 5 to 6 inches over a 10-foot span away from your foundation. That slope will keep water from getting down to your foundation, where it can cause the walls to lean, create leaks, and crack the Mansory.
- Don’t let the soil become too dry, if it dries out for a long time, it may shrink. If it rains a lot, it may cause the soil to expand and eventually put pressure on your foundation and walls. If there is a drought, run a soaker hose at least 6 inches from the foundation and 3 inches under the soil in order to keep the soil from expanding.
2. Check For Leakages And Fix Them Immediately
If leaks continue, they can lead to rot, mildew, and mold growth. Because soggy wood is soft, termites and ants enjoy chewing on it. If you fix a leak as soon as it appears, you may save your home from long-term damage and money for restoration.
How to make sure there are no leaks:
- Inspect your roof once a year, you don’t have to do this on your own as you can call professionals. You can also repair loose, damaged, or even missing shingles. Repair the cracked caulking and check for leaks around the flashing.
- Check if there are any dark spots under the pipes that are inside the sink cabinets, also check for course drips, and stains on the ceiling and toilets that rock.
3. Regularly Test Your Sump Pump
The majority of the time, sump pumps are only put to use when there is a storm, so you definitely don’t want to be in a position where yours isn’t functioning correctly when you need it the most. At a minimum once per year, check to see if it is functioning, and you can also perform a few checks while it is the height of the heavy storm season.
How to test your sump pump:
Fill the sump pump pit slowly with water. Watch the float as it rises; this should turn on the sump pump. After that, watch to make sure that the water level falls. You can also test your backup pump the same way, only this time you can unplug the main pump first.
4. Shut Off Your Water Main Supply When Going Away
When you go on vacation or anywhere you won’t be returning for an extended period of time, turn off your water main. Even a minor leak can cause significant damage by the time you return from your trip or notice the leak.
Many accidents caused by water flow can be avoided by turning off your water main while leaving.
5. Inspect Your Appliances Regularly
Regularly check your appliances for any leaks; you can use the manufacturer’s manual of instructions to do so. At least once a year, upgrade the hoses on your washing machine. The appliances that you have to inspect are:
- Hot water heater
- refrigerator
- AC Unit
- Attic appliance
Why You Need Professionals to Restore Water Damage in Your Home and Office
If you need professional water damage restoration for your home or office, you need to contact people with extensive experience; this will save you from spending thousands of dollars in the future on more repairs. Professionals will not only fix the damage caused by the water, but they will also get rid of the mold and mold spores.
A professional restoration company has the right tools to deal with any problems that may come up while fixing water damage to your home or office.
The Restoration Services That We Provide
The following are the services that we provide to our clients:
- Emergency restoration services
- Mold remediation services
- Fire damage restoration
- Mold removal
- Sewage clean-up
Why You Should Choose Environment Control of South Colorado to Restore Your Water Damage
Environment Control is Colorado Springs’ go-to water damage restoration company. We have a team of certified technicians who work around the clock and respond right away. We are known for our professionalism and speed. All major insurance companies can work with our licensed technicians.
Count on us to restore your home or business after a fire or flood in Colorado Springs or the nearby area.