24/7 Emergency Service
Water Damage in the Sacramento Summer
7/26/2019 (Permalink)
In this job, water damage caused by a broken supply line in a washing machine caused damage through the entire home.
The very worst time for water damage to occur is when you’re on vacation and away from home. After all, what could be worse than coming home from a relaxing summer trip only to find that your home has been flooded, or severely damaged by water? Unfortunately, this happens more often than you'd realize. In fact, the Insurance Information Institute has reported that the second most common insurance claim filed by homeowners is water damage to the home. Whether it’s from ruptured washing machine hoses, water heater drips, leaky supply lines, or a busted pipe, the consequences are disastrous. To avoid catastrophe while you’re on vacation this summer, here are a few tips that will help to protect your home.
Complete a Thorough Check Prior to Leaving
Before you leave for your summer vacation, be sure to take the time to inspect your home for any leaks.
- Check out all of the pipes under your kitchen and bathroom sinks
- Examine your water heater for any cracks or rust
- Make sure that windows and doors are properly sealed
- Look out for any signs of roof leaks
- Evaluate any hoses that connect to major household appliances like dishwashers, washing machines, and refrigerators to ensure that they aren’t leaking or showing signs of severe wear.
Clean Your Gutters and Downspouts Before Leaving
Clogged up rain gutters and downspouts can result in pooling water on your roof, and eventually to major leaks and severe water damage. Spending just a little bit of time on removing the debris from these areas can prevent major problems down the road. You should also make sure that your downspouts are discharging the proper distance away from your house (a minimum of 10 feet) to prevent flooding.
Ask Someone to Check In On Your Home
If you’re going to be away for several days to several weeks, it’s wise to ask a trusted friend or neighbor to look in on things around your house while you’re gone. Having someone house-sit or visit your home once a day will ensure that any leaks that do occur will be caught and stopped before they can cause major damage.
Turn Off the Main Water Valve
If you can’t get anyone to look after your house, your best bet is to shut off the water supply to your home at the main valve. If you’ve never done this before, make sure to test it out before you leave by attempting to turn on a faucet.
Shut Off Water Supply Valves
Sometimes, you might not be able to shut off your main water valve because you have an automatic sprinkler system or have asked someone to water your plants while you’re away. Even so, you can shut off the water supply to the most frequent culprits of water damage, such as toilets, ice makers, washing machines, etc. These appliances will all feature individual stops (shutoff valves) on their supply lines. Simply turn the valve clockwise to stop water flow.