Though it is quite a large and expensive problem, water damage in your home is not uncommon, especially in the winter months. In fact, the number of home water damage cases greatly increases during the winter. What many people don’t realize is that a large number of water damage cases could have been prevented with some easy proactive steps.
Here are a few simple home maintenance tips to help you prevent the all too common problem of winter water damage in your home. – Tips to Help Prevent Winter Water Damage
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Clean Your Roof
It is not super common to get snow here in the Pacific Northwest, but it does happen, especially over the last few years. What is snow? What does it melt into? That’s right, water. Significant amounts of water are sitting on top of your roof and when it eventually melts. It will need somewhere to run off to. When the snow gets blocked or built up that water can and more than likely will melt and run into the home through the attic, windows, and down the walls. You can prevent this by making sure your gutters are clean during the blustery months of fall and investing in a roof rake to pull that snow down off the roof if it has been sitting for a while.
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Leak Detectors are Handy Helpers
Appliances are another common culprit of in-home water damage. Leak detectors can be installed on each appliance. You can either purchase a detector to notify you when there is a leak detected or have it shut off the water as soon as a leak is noticed. Leak detectors are a great investment to get to appliance leaks right away.
Related: Helpful Things to Know about Water Damage
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Know Your Insurance Policy
In the event of water damage in your home, you will need your insurance company to come through for you. It can get very pricey to get your home back in order if you have a significant water damage issue that requires emergency water damage restoration services. If you know that you are covered in your homeowner’s policy it will make it that much easier to get things cleaned up and repaired. Double-check your insurance policy to see what it does and does not cover. If you aren’t covered for water damage talk with your agent about what it would take to get covered.
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Insulate Exposed Pipes
Make sure that all exposed pipes are properly insulated, especially if you own an older home. As the temperatures drop these pipes could freeze and potentially burst. Insulation keeps pipes warm and from freezing and then bursting.
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Are you a DIY-er? Then these home maintenance tips, checklists, and DIY repairs might be right up your alley.
We partner with several real estate agents around the Puget Sound for buying or selling properties that need restoration and repair. For Seattle real estate check out Kelli Howison and for Snohomish County commercial and residential, visit Ellen Bruya. For North Snohomish County and Camano Island real estate, contact Mitzi Cameron.