Water can enter any unexpected place in a home. Leading to unpleasant, serious, or even catastrophic results. Whether due to excess rain, plumbing problems, or some other factor, if your house shows signs of water damage, you must act quickly to prevent further harm.
Let’s examine four possible reasons why your home might be suffering from water issues so that we can begin taking steps toward safeguarding its structure and contents.
Leaky Pipes Or Appliances
You often won’t even know there’s a leak until it has been active for some time, leading to major water damage in your home. For example, dripping appliances like ice makers and dishwashers may drip water, while plumbing leaks from toilets, sinks, and bathtubs can cause even more extensive harm. Signs that there may be an issue include spots on walls or ceiling, discoloured flooring, mouldy odours, inside the building interior, and welcomed critters appealing unexpectedly.
Clogged Gutter And Downspouts
Clogged gutters are one of the most frequent yet potentially devastating problems for your home’s water drainage system. Solid debris like leaves or twigs can obstruct water flow through your gutter, rendering them ineffective at draining rainwater away from your house.
As a result, water collects around your foundation or walls – leading to cracks or foundation issues. Worse, this issue often goes undetected over time due to small particles building up. Inspect and clean out your gutters each season to keep your home free from water damage.
Improper Grading
Improper grading can be an overlooked contributor to water damage in your home. Rain or other forms of precipitation, like melting snow that comes into contact with the soil around your home’s foundation, may lead to pooling near and eventually seepage into its walls. Improper grading can prevent this from happening. Grading soil correctly is critical, as an improper grade can create an unwelcome barrier that traps water near your property instead of allowing it to drain away gradually.
To avoid a potentially devastating scenario, ensure your foundation has been sloped away from the house properly so rain runoff and snow melt have nowhere to accumulate that is not within or around your home’s perimeter. Being mindful of this aspect can go a long way toward avoiding damage caused by water intrusion at its source.
Cracked Foundation
Have you noticed your home’s foundation beginning to crack? This could be indicative of water damage. Piling up dirt and water around the foundation can cause it to shift and crack, potentially leading to serious issues if left unattended. Any cracks in your foundation must be addressed immediately to prevent frame damage or costly repairs down the line. Check for wet spots near where they stand and ensure all nearby areas have been adequately drained not to worsen existing damage.
Water damage can be an unseen enemy that’s difficult to detect and even more challenging to fix. However, early detection of signs of water damage is essential in protecting your home and keeping it in optimal condition. Examining gutters, grading, foundations, and ventilation thoroughly will help avoid future water damage incidents and save you costly repairs.
