Being a homeowner comes with a lot of responsibility and preventative maintenance. After all there are a lot of things that can happen to or within your home that can cause you stress and financial strain. There are many different approaches when it comes to maintaining a well-functioning home, and there really isn’t a prevailing approach. But when it comes to ensuring your home remains dry and preventing water damage, there are several key steps you should take, and these include:
During a rainstorm or once the snow begins to melt, there is a lot of water that flows off your roof into your gutter and down your downspouts. If your downspouts are not directing this water away from your home, it can end up in your home. Two things to look for are ensuring the downspouts are not damaged, and that they protrude a safe enough distance from your home. If the water escapes through a crack, or if it is being expelled beside your foundation, it will absorb into the ground around your home and can eventually find its way into your basement.
The caulking around your window and doors frames help seal the frames to your home. They protect from air, bugs, and yes water from entering your home from around these frames. Over time, the caulking around your windows and doors can break down, crack and pull away from your home or the frame itself. If this happens, it provides an entry way for water to get into your home. Over time, the water that gets into your home will increase and lead to water damage.
The ground surrounding your home should be on an incline as it comes closer to your home, in other words it should lead water down and away from your home. This is meant to prevent water from sitting next to your home’s exterior walls. If you notice that water flows towards your home instead of away from it, the best way to prevent water damage to your home is by having the land around your home regarded to lead away from your home.
Conducting biannual maintenance checks and inspections of your roof is key to preventing potential serious issues. Overgrown moss, missing shingles, and holes can lead to water entering your home and causing a potentially hazardous situation. Inspecting your roof seasonally will provide you with peace of mind.
Drain waste is one of the leading causes of water damage, pouring grease and other food down your drains can lead to clogged drains. This can lead to water backups and in some extreme cases even lead to pipes bursting. Preventing food scraps from going down your drains and disposing of oil and grease properly will help keep your pipes clean, clear, and healthy.
We already mentioned above that your gutters collect the runoff water from your roof and direct this water to the downspouts and away from your home. If your gutters however are not clear, this water cannot flow to the downspout. Eventually a clogged gutter will lead to the water flowing over the gutter’s edge and down the wall of your home and resting around your foundation. To prevent this from happening, have your gutters cleaned near the end of fall, early winter will help prevent blockages.
Coupling the above tips with a proper basement waterproofing will help ensure your home remains dry and will help you avoid any potential water damage in the future. However, if you feel there is moisture in your home and there is a potential of water leakage do not hesitate to contact a water damage restoration company and have it assessed.
Get Immediate Help 
(647) 931-4203
