How To Check For A Water Damage?

How To Protect Your Orlando Home?

The first signs of water damage might seem trivial. But warnings like water stains on the ceilings or a leak under the kitchen sink can lead to real problems, like a weakened roof or rotten floorboards. It can wreck havoc on a home, and unfortunately it doesn’t take long — one serious storm could be enough to result in damage that requires many hours of labor and thousands of dollars to repair.

Why take a chance? Learn where your home is most likely to suffer water damage, and what you can do to help prevent it.

While water damage is very apparent when a pipe bursts, or there’s been a large storm, most homeowners don’t realize that it can also occur little by little over time. And, if not dealt with, water damage can cause serious long-term and expensive problems to your home, so be sure to check for it before it becomes a major problem. Don’t know where to look? Here are seven places to start.

Windows

Windows can perfectly accent a home while keeping energy use to a minimum. But even the best windows can be improperly sealed and allow water in. Even if you haven’t noticed any dampness on your sill after a storm, you can check if your windows are closing properly by placing your hand where it closes. If you notice any drafts while the window is completely shut, you may need to call in a professional.

Your Shower

Over time the caulking in your shower breaks down and can become brittle. Examine the seal in your shower for weak points where damage can occur, but also check around the outside. If the caulking is leaking, water can seep out into the rest of your bathroom and get under flooring and walls.

Base Molding

Water damage around the base molding in your bathroom can be trickier to spot since it’s glued to the wall. The moisture from your bath or shower can soak into the paneling and cause damage from behind. Look for loose points in the panel as well as discoloration or mold by contact points. A good way to prevent damage to your molding is to ensure your bathroom is well ventilated with a fan or open window.

Beneath Your Kitchen Sink

The cabinet below your kitchen sink is the perfect environment for mold and water damage. It’s warm, humid and stagnant. Damage can occur without a leak due to these conditions, but a leak from the caulking or a loose washer will accelerate the process. Try not to overcrowd the cabinet and check under stored items for damage.

By Your Refrigerator

It’s easy to notice when condensation pools up inside your refrigerator, but a less-obvious hazard is water underneath it. Drips from a leaky freezer, broken ice cube maker or damaged hose can cause water to pool beneath your refrigerator. When you mop, take a quick peek for any leaks.

Around Your Toilet

Water damage doesn’t just occur when your toilet overflows. It can happen methodically over time—and with the toilet’s proximity to the shower, it can be hard to spot a what’s a leak and what’s from your shower. Toilets can leak from loose hoses, through old caulking and even cracks in the bowl, so check these places if you notice some extra water.

The Washer Drain

As with any hose, a puncture can turn an otherwise reliable machine into a leaky mess. Day-to-day use of your washer can cause a cracked hose or for the drain hole to come loose or come out. From time to time, grab a flashlight or pull the washer out slightly to make sure it’s secure. It’s not the most glamorous job, but you might find a few missing socks, too.

Put a Stop to any Water Damage.

Just by keeping an eye out for problems, you could save your possessions from damage, spare yourself costly repairs, and even keep your insurance premiums low. For more information on how to prevent water damage and improve home safety give us a call at 407-641-1544 to get a plumbing inspection before water damage happen.