Prevention Measures To Stop Water Leaks

You spent the day out meeting friends while the kids were at school. You arrive back home feeling relaxed and still elevated from your catch-up with your best friend. You sit down on the sofa to collect your thoughts. That’s when you begin to notice that the house is surprisingly quiet.

Typically, the kids would be arguing loudly or bickering with each other. You know a neighbor made sure they would be safe at home for you. You call out their names, and they answer. Why is it so quiet when they are usually so loud? But you can also hear a gentle giggle coming from the back of the house.

As a parent, you’re experienced enough to know that it means trouble. You get up to check on them. As you get closer to the sound of quiet laughing, you begin to hear indistinguishable whispers and water noise. The noises are coming from inside the big dining room, the one you only use when you have guests. You reach the door and can’t help but gasp. The kids are playing with little paper boats inside a huge puddle of water. 

“What is it?” you almost shout. 

“It was here when we came back,” your older one says. 

“It wasn’t us,” the younger one adds in a hurry. 

Your eyes fall on a wet patch on the ceiling that’s been dripping along the wall, the bookshelves, and the audio system before forming a puddle on the floor. You feel like you want to scream. It is one of the homeowners’ worst nightmares: You’ve got water damage! You worry about the water damage cost and whether your belongings are salvageable. Is the house structure still safe despite all the water? 

How to Prevent Water Leaks in your Home

First of all, don’t panic. There are plenty of specialist professionals who know how to handle the issue. However, if this story makes you feel uncomfortable and anxious, here are some tips to avoid water leaks or infiltration inside your home.

Avoid DIY repairs

From bathroom renovation to adding an insulation solution to your basement, these are crucial home repair works you should entrust to a professional. Indeed, a professional contractor is fully equipped and trained to handle the issue, which means they will not cause more damage through the process. Homeowners are more likely to miss the underlying cause of the problem or use a temporary patch that doesn’t prevent the issue from reoccurring. 

Don’t skip roof maintenance and checks

You should make sure you get yearly checks for your home. The roof area needs to be maintained and reviewed for potential damages regularly. It will ensure you can fix damages before they affect your property. Booking a professional roof inspection every year can protect your home from unexpected water leaks. The cost of hiring an inspector is much less than having to replace your roof or fixing long-lasting water damage. 

Keep an eye on your water use

Your water bill and water meter are the first indicators of a potential water leak. Indeed, the water bill should be predictable. So, if you receive an unprecedented high invoice, it may be a sign that you’ve got a water leak. A family of four should not expect a bill of more than 12,000 gallons per month, except during the summer months if you water the lawn. A small leak, such as a faucet with a drip, could cause you to waste up to 10,000 gallons of water in a year. So, you will notice a difference in your water bill, even if it isn’t a huge spike in cost. 

Test your water

Do you notice limescale formation around your faucets and inside the sink? Hard water is high in minerals, which can lead to limescale. You may not consider it an issue if you’re using tough cleaning agents that can remove white marks in your household. However, limescale can also create buildups inside your appliances and plumbing system. In the long term, these buildups can facilitate leaks, as they can affect appliances and plumbing functions. It can also be a good idea to use a water softener to protect your pipes. Indeed, if you are already using a water filter to remove the taste of hard water, you only clean the minerals once the water has already been through your system. A quality water softener removes minerals before the water enters your home. 

Water damage can happen for a variety of reasons. However, more often than not, homeowners could prevent issues with the right habits, such as letting repair jobs to professionals, running yearly roof maintenance, checking for water waste clues, and improving water quality.