When a pipe bursts, it has the potential for devastating damage. Some things are out of your control, but there are a lot of small things you can do to minimize your risk and rest a bit easier.
Preventative measures before a leak happens:
There are parts of appliances such as your fridge, washing machine, dishwasher, and also your toilet that need to be routinely examined for damage, particularly the hoses. If they are plastic, they will harden over time and burst. For the best kind of protection, use hoses that are braided as these are the strongest. To stop the water flow while replacing the hoses, shut off the supply to the appliance that you are working on at the time. Periodically, you should shut off the valve to your main water supply and open it, to reduce calcium deposits inside of it.
If you store things in your basement that are important to you like your photos and mementoes, put them in heavy duty plastic bins. Paperwork needs to be protected also, so get some bins for tax papers and other documents as well. Cover your floors with moisture-tolerant materials, like ceramic tile. There are walls that have protective coverings or are made of compounds that will resist moisture retention. Inspect your walls often and call in an inspector if you find cracks.
If you raise important items off of the floor even 10 cm or so, this will protect important electronics such as a desktop computer tower that is under the desk on the floor.
Having a quick inspection of your pipes and appliances is a good idea if you happen to have a plumber handy in your home for another reason, it's well worth the investment.
Check your water heater periodically for signs of leakage - it may be possible to save an expensive repair by paying attention to signs of age. Replace your hot water tank every 15 years. Leakage can occur on your dishwasher or other appliances like a fridge, so be sure that repairs are made as soon as possible, to ensure it does not cause major damage later on.
If you discover leaking water:
Stay calm. If water damage occurs, you should take immediate steps to limit further property damage. Shut off water supplies and move items out of wet basements or other flooded parts of your home. During your cleanup, keep the bills and receipts for supplies that you buy in order to reduce damages, if your policy covers water damage, they will pay reasonable expenses incurred.
After you take care of the immediate problem, let your insurance agent know that this damage occurred, they will help to make the process quicker and easier, and reduce disruption to you, and damage to your property. Your claims adjuster will be able to help you determine the best options.
If there is a chance that electrical appliances have been exposed to water, don't touch them. Know that when trees fall and cause damage to your home, that live wires could be down, so be careful, and call the proper authorities. A lot of assistance can be gained by speaking to your insurance adjuster, when damages like this occur.
Preventative measures before a leak happens:
There are parts of appliances such as your fridge, washing machine, dishwasher, and also your toilet that need to be routinely examined for damage, particularly the hoses. If they are plastic, they will harden over time and burst. For the best kind of protection, use hoses that are braided as these are the strongest. To stop the water flow while replacing the hoses, shut off the supply to the appliance that you are working on at the time. Periodically, you should shut off the valve to your main water supply and open it, to reduce calcium deposits inside of it.
If you store things in your basement that are important to you like your photos and mementoes, put them in heavy duty plastic bins. Paperwork needs to be protected also, so get some bins for tax papers and other documents as well. Cover your floors with moisture-tolerant materials, like ceramic tile. There are walls that have protective coverings or are made of compounds that will resist moisture retention. Inspect your walls often and call in an inspector if you find cracks.
If you raise important items off of the floor even 10 cm or so, this will protect important electronics such as a desktop computer tower that is under the desk on the floor.
Having a quick inspection of your pipes and appliances is a good idea if you happen to have a plumber handy in your home for another reason, it's well worth the investment.
Check your water heater periodically for signs of leakage - it may be possible to save an expensive repair by paying attention to signs of age. Replace your hot water tank every 15 years. Leakage can occur on your dishwasher or other appliances like a fridge, so be sure that repairs are made as soon as possible, to ensure it does not cause major damage later on.
If you discover leaking water:
Stay calm. If water damage occurs, you should take immediate steps to limit further property damage. Shut off water supplies and move items out of wet basements or other flooded parts of your home. During your cleanup, keep the bills and receipts for supplies that you buy in order to reduce damages, if your policy covers water damage, they will pay reasonable expenses incurred.
After you take care of the immediate problem, let your insurance agent know that this damage occurred, they will help to make the process quicker and easier, and reduce disruption to you, and damage to your property. Your claims adjuster will be able to help you determine the best options.
If there is a chance that electrical appliances have been exposed to water, don't touch them. Know that when trees fall and cause damage to your home, that live wires could be down, so be careful, and call the proper authorities. A lot of assistance can be gained by speaking to your insurance adjuster, when damages like this occur.
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