How Not to Return Home to Water Damage

7/1/2021 (Permalink)

After what has seemed an eternity, many will finally be able to enjoy a vacation away from home this year. While these are usually enjoyable, happy, calming, and battery charging events, all that good may come crashing down the minute you return home if when you open the door you step into standing water. Discovering water damage in your Springfield or Greene County home is a nightmare you’ll never want to experience.

To avoid this kind of situation, homeowners must be aware of and put into place the following defenses to prevent flooding emergencies and water damage while they are away. The preparation and extra efforts can pay off in the form of thousands of dollars saved and your peace of mind. 

4 Steps to Take Before Leaving Home

1. Shut Off the Main Water Valve - Before leaving town, shut off the main water line to avoid any chance of water damage while you’re away. Some water meter setups have two valves, one on the street side of the meter and another on the house side. In colder climates, you’ll characteristically find the main shutoff in the basement near the front of the house. In warmer areas, it’ll be outside the home fastened to an exterior wall or in an underground box with a removable cover.
2. Shut Off Water Supply Valves - If you can’t shut off the main water supply due to having an automatic sprinkler system or somebody is watering the plants while you’re away, shut off the valves to the most common sources of water damage such as washing machines, dishwashers, and ice makers, in case a hose blows or detaches. Supply stops usually have a little round or oval knob you turn clockwise to shut off the flow of water.
3. Replace Water Supply Lines - To avoid water damage, especially when you’re not home, be sure to install stainless steel braided water supply lines on all your appliances, faucets and toilets. They last far longer than rubber or plastic hoses and are unlikely to leak. They also stop mice from gnawing into the lines. A pair of washing machine hoses will usually cost less than $20. Shorter kinds for faucets or toilets are also available.
4. Check Your Gutters - A 1,000 sq. ft. roof will shed about 620 gallons of water during a 1 inch rainfall. That’s a ton of water dumped next to your basement. Therefore, before going away on a vacation, check your gutters. Make sure leaves, sticks or other debris are not obstructing the inlet of the downspout and stopping water from flowing down the spout. Also double-check that all downspout extensions are discharging the water far away from the foundation.

Water Damage is More Than a Nuisance

The reasons to take the preceding precautions before leaving on vacation are numerous. Besides the headaches and costs, you may also experience these other problems triggered by water damage:

• Structural Damage
• Mold
• Health Problems
• Bad Odors
• Stains
• Electrical Damage

We’ve all been through a lot recently, so we hope that you will never have to experience water damage, especially after a relaxing vacation. But if the unforeseen arises, let SERVPRO of Springfield / Greene County ease your mind by eliminating all traces of such a terrible event. We’ll do all the work so that you can sit back and enjoy your pictures, videos and memories.