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Preventing Water Damage to Your Home

Spring is here and with it comes the rain. While those April showers may bring May flowers they can also cause water damage to your home. To help keep that from happening here are a few home maintenance tips you can follow to protect your home from water damage.  

Exterior Sources

While some water damage risks come from the inside (think burst pipes and leaky hot water heaters) there are many that come from the outside of your home. To prevent water damage from these sources common-sense steps are important. 

Maintain Your Gutters

Taking the time to clean your gutters at least twice a year is always a good idea. Improperly draining gutters can allow water to seep into your foundation walls, which can cause a lot of damage to your basement or crawl spaces. Spring and fall are the perfect times to do this easy, but sometimes tedious, chore. If you’re worried about climbing up on a ladder call a local gutter cleaning company to do the work for you. 

Inspect Your Roof

Your roof is the first line of defense in keeping water out of your home. At least once a year be sure that the shingles are in good shape and free of moss or visible damage. If you are unsure of what to look for call a professional roofer for an inspection. 

Test Sprinkler Lines

Water leaks in your sprinkler supply line can lead to more than just a big water bill. Those water losses can create a major headache if they flood your lawn or leak into your foundation. 

Interior Sources

Burst pipes are unlikely once we’ve reached March, but they’re still possible if the weather takes a dip. Make sure all pipes in cold areas are insulated and protected from the cold weather. 

Know How to Stop It

It’s very important to know how to shut off the water at your main water supply valve in case of a burst pipe or water leak. Install water loss detection devices (which can measure the amount of water you typically use and alert you to water losses) to be especially safe and catch leaks early. 

Be Proactive

If you have a basement or crawl space that’s prone to water seepage install a French drain or sump pump to get the water out as quickly as possible.