To Avoid Water Damage In Your House
Indoor plumbing is one of the great conveniences of modern Canadian life. As long as it is in working order and good condition, we enjoy easy access to potable water brought directly and safely into our homes.
But pipes are not the only way that water can sometimes enter a home, and when water comes in through these other means, it can often result in water damage that is both unsightly and expensive to repair. If you want to make sure water doesn’t damage your home, follow these tips to keep this trouble away from your home.
1 – Ensure Your Gutters Are Clear
This is the #1 most common cause of water getting into a home, and at the same time, it is the most preventable. The gutters on your roof are designed to catch the rainwater running off the roof itself, letting it pour through a drainpipe and away from your home, where it can safely flow without penetrating your home.
If your gutter gets blocked, and that rain or meltwater is no longer going down the pipes and away from your home, it’s flowing directly down the side of your house, and into your foundation! This is the chief cause of leaky basements, which is a disaster for you if you have already finished your basement since it means the drywall you installed is now compromised. Always make sure your gutters are clear!
2 – Keep Water Pressure Reasonable
In today’s world, most homeowners will only need high water pressure for their shower. Fortunately, just buying and installing the right shower head can achieve this. Do not try to get a high-pressure shower by keeping the overall water pressure in your home high. This adds undue stress to your water pipes every second of every day, and if it goes on for too long, you can damage and burst your pipes!
Now, with a burst pipe, depending on where it’s located, you may experience water damage in the ceiling, floor or walls. This may require professionals to tear down the wall or floor to get at the pipe that is damaged and repair it!
3 – Use A Plunger Or Snake
It’s always a good idea to prevent blockages in your drainpipes, but we advise that if you can, use mechanical solutions to do so. A plunger, plumber’s snake or plumbing auger are the ideal solutions for physically removing obstructions in your drain pipes if you notice you have a “slow drain.”
And while store-bought, off-the-shelf drain cleaners will also get the job done, exercise much more caution in the amount and frequency of use of these products. Remember, drain cleaners are made of corrosive chemicals. This means that very old pipes may break due to exposure too much drain cleaner. Even modern PVC pipes can warp or even melt when exposed to an overdose of drain cleaning product, so be very careful.
4 – When In Doubt, Get Help
If you already have a leak somewhere, or you see the water damage in your home but aren’t sure what’s causing it, bring in the professionals! Water damage repair and problem-solving are what plumbers are for, and an experienced plumber can catch—and fix—a small problem or help deal with a serious one.
The experts at Drain Rescue Plumbers are your go-to team for all your plumbing repairs and installations. Contact us today when you need reliable plumbing services.