14 Tips to Prevent Water Damage in Your Dallas-Fort Worth Home
posted May 16, 2011
1. Be vigilant about proper maintenance of pipes to prevent them from bursting
Water Damage in Dallas Fort Worth
Dallas-Fort Worth homeowners need to know that while most homeowners’ insurance policies cover burst pipes, if the pipe burst due to the homeowners’ lack of proper home maintenance or neglect, the claim may be denied. That alone is a good reason to be vigilant about proper home maintenance and potential water damage. A small drip or leak from a broken pipe or poorly maintained home appliances can quickly mushroom into quite a catastrophe and can damage or completely destroy your house as well as the belongings inside.
2. Regularly check your appliances
Regularly checking your home appliances for leaks can be the difference between simply wiping a small inconsequential puddle and a major water damage restoration project. Plumbers, electricians or water damage restoration contractors can do annual maintenance on your appliances. In between professional checkups, keep an eye out for leaks, drips and rusty pipes, to minimize any potential damage. The bathrooms, kitchen, laundry room and basement are most prone to water leaks, drips and floods.
3. Monitor kitchen sink for leaks
Make sure to check the pipes under the sink for leaks and secure connection to power supply lines. Check to make sure the caulk around the sink is still holding and re-caulk as needed. If pipes are slow draining, you may have a partly clogged drain.
4. Check your refrigerator ice maker
In your refrigerator, check ice makers for proper connections as they can burst and cause leaks.
5. Check shower and bathtubs for leaks
Discoloration or soft areas around floors and walls near showers or bathtubs may be your first indication there is a leak. Check caulking at joints where the walls meet the floor or the bathtub, looking for cracks or mold. If either is found, clean and remove loose material and apply new sealant. If the shower walls or floor are tiled, a leak may develop if there are cracks or missing areas of grout.
6. Inspect under sinks
Check under the sink for signs of leaks from water supply lines or drain pipes.
7. Don’t clog toilets
Placing inappropriate objects or too much toilet paper in the bowl can accidentally clog toilets, especially “low-flow” toilets now required in homes. Hanging bowl deodorants are frequently the culprits. These objects can lodge deep in the plumbing system and can block the line or create an obstruction that grease and other materials can cling to – eventually causing blockage. In addition, some chlorine tablet cleaners may corrode some of the internal components, eventually leading to a leak.
8. Regularly inspect washing machine
- Inspect washing machine hoses regularly for wetness around hose ends and signs of bulging, cracking, or fraying. Replace the hose if a problem is found or every three to five years as part of a proactive maintenance program. Replacing your washing machine hoses is a fairly simple home repair task. It’s as easy as hooking up a hose to a water spigot.
- Just shut off the water supply to your washing machine. If there’s not a shutoff near your washer, close the main shutoff valve in your house.
- Unscrew the old hoses and hook up the new ones.
- Make sure you line up the threads and screw the hoses on tightly. When you’re done, turn on the water supply and check carefully for leaks.
- Washing machine hoses can be purchased at most home repair centers, hardware stores, and plumbing supply outlets. Expect to pay $10 to $20 for a new set of washing machine hoses.
9. Inspect Water heater
Most water heaters last 10 to 15 years. Wet spots on the floor or a rusted tank may signal a problem. Hot water heaters should be installed on the lowest level of the home and always located next to a floor drain. If installed above or adjacent to finished spaces, the hot water heater should be placed inside a drain pan with the drain pan piped to the floor drain.
10. Inspect air conditioning before Texas summer starts in Dallas-Fort Worth
At the start of the cooling season, have the A/C system serviced by a qualified contractor. Make sure their service includes inspecting and cleaning the air conditioner condensation pan drain line to keep it free of obstructions. Change the air filters on a regular basis
11. Install sump pump in your basement or crawl space
Sump pump systems assist in keeping unwanted water out of your home. Battery-operated back-up sump pumps can offer a degree of protection against power failure or failure of the primary pump. A generator can also be used to power the pump in case of a power failure. Test the sump pump before the start of each wet season to ensure it is in working order. Sump pumps are not intended to last more than 10 years and must have some components replaced or serviced within those 10 years.
12. Check for leaks using meter reading
Check for hidden leaks by turning off faucets, all water-using appliances, and not flushing toilets for one hour. Record the water meter reading. If the flow indicator (triangular or diamond-shaped rotating button) is spinning or the meter reading has changed while no water is being used, a leaking pipe may exist.
13. Make sure main water shut off valve is operational
Know where the main water shut off valve is located in your home and check it frequently to make sure it is operational.
14. Buy and install water damage prevention tools
There are water leak detection systems that can help prevent a leak before it turns into a flood.
Water Alarms
- Systems are typically battery-operated, stand-alone units. They are inexpensive and easy to install.
- A moisture sensor is located on the device and will activate an audible alarm when it senses moisture.
- Water alarms can be placed on the floor or they may be wall mounted. The water alarm should be located in high-risk areas such as under sinks and near appliances and equipment that use water.
- Water alarms range in cost from $8 to $45.
- This device is only beneficial if someone is inside the home, hears the alarm and takes action to stop the leak.
Individual Appliance System
- Systems are installed on a specific appliance and will automatically shut off the water supply in the event of a leak.
- You may be able to install this system without any special tools. However, in some cases, a qualified plumber may be needed.
- Individual appliance systems range in cost from $50 to $150.
Whole House Systems
- Whole House Systems feature a shut-off valve that is installed on the main water supply piping. When a leak is detected, the system will automatically shut off the entire water supply.
- Some models can be integrated with a local or central station security system.
- If you travel often, this type of system could offer you additional peace-of-mind while you are away from home.
- Whole-house systems typically take between four and six hours to install and cost between $500 and $1,500 depending on labor rates and size.
Dallas Fort Worth Water Damage Prevention Tips
posted May 16, 2011 1. Be vigilant about proper maintenance of pipes to prevent them from bursting
Water Damage in Dallas Fort Worth
2. Regularly check your appliances
Regularly checking your home appliances for leaks can be the difference between simply wiping a small inconsequential puddle and a major water damage restoration project. Plumbers, electricians or water damage restoration contractors can do annual maintenance on your appliances. In between professional checkups, keep an eye out for leaks, drips and rusty pipes, to minimize any potential damage. The bathrooms, kitchen, laundry room and basement are most prone to water leaks, drips and floods.
3. Monitor kitchen sink for leaks
Make sure to check the pipes under the sink for leaks and secure connection to power supply lines. Check to make sure the caulk around the sink is still holding and re-caulk as needed. If pipes are slow draining, you may have a partly clogged drain.
4. Check your refrigerator ice maker
In your refrigerator, check ice makers for proper connections as they can burst and cause leaks.
5. Check shower and bathtubs for leaks
Discoloration or soft areas around floors and walls near showers or bathtubs may be your first indication there is a leak. Check caulking at joints where the walls meet the floor or the bathtub, looking for cracks or mold. If either is found, clean and remove loose material and apply new sealant. If the shower walls or floor are tiled, a leak may develop if there are cracks or missing areas of grout.
6. Inspect under sinks
Check under the sink for signs of leaks from water supply lines or drain pipes.
7. Don’t clog toilets
Placing inappropriate objects or too much toilet paper in the bowl can accidentally clog toilets, especially “low-flow” toilets now required in homes. Hanging bowl deodorants are frequently the culprits. These objects can lodge deep in the plumbing system and can block the line or create an obstruction that grease and other materials can cling to – eventually causing blockage. In addition, some chlorine tablet cleaners may corrode some of the internal components, eventually leading to a leak.
8. Regularly inspect washing machine
- Inspect washing machine hoses regularly for wetness around hose ends and signs of bulging, cracking, or fraying. Replace the hose if a problem is found or every three to five years as part of a proactive maintenance program. Replacing your washing machine hoses is a fairly simple home repair task. It’s as easy as hooking up a hose to a water spigot.
- Just shut off the water supply to your washing machine. If there’s not a shutoff near your washer, close the main shutoff valve in your house.
- Unscrew the old hoses and hook up the new ones.
- Make sure you line up the threads and screw the hoses on tightly. When you’re done, turn on the water supply and check carefully for leaks.
- Washing machine hoses can be purchased at most home repair centers, hardware stores, and plumbing supply outlets. Expect to pay $10 to $20 for a new set of washing machine hoses.
9. Inspect Water heater
Most water heaters last 10 to 15 years. Wet spots on the floor or a rusted tank may signal a problem. Hot water heaters should be installed on the lowest level of the home and always located next to a floor drain. If installed above or adjacent to finished spaces, the hot water heater should be placed inside a drain pan with the drain pan piped to the floor drain.
10. Inspect air conditioning before Texas summer starts in Dallas-Fort Worth
At the start of the cooling season, have the A/C system serviced by a qualified contractor. Make sure their service includes inspecting and cleaning the air conditioner condensation pan drain line to keep it free of obstructions. Change the air filters on a regular basis
11. Install sump pump in your basement or crawl space
Sump pump systems assist in keeping unwanted water out of your home. Battery-operated back-up sump pumps can offer a degree of protection against power failure or failure of the primary pump. A generator can also be used to power the pump in case of a power failure. Test the sump pump before the start of each wet season to ensure it is in working order. Sump pumps are not intended to last more than 10 years and must have some components replaced or serviced within those 10 years.
12. Check for leaks using meter reading
Check for hidden leaks by turning off faucets, all water-using appliances, and not flushing toilets for one hour. Record the water meter reading. If the flow indicator (triangular or diamond-shaped rotating button) is spinning or the meter reading has changed while no water is being used, a leaking pipe may exist.
13. Make sure main water shut off valve is operational
Know where the main water shut off valve is located in your home and check it frequently to make sure it is operational.
14. Buy and install water damage prevention tools
There are water leak detection systems that can help prevent a leak before it turns into a flood.
Water Alarms
- Systems are typically battery-operated, stand-alone units. They are inexpensive and easy to install.
- A moisture sensor is located on the device and will activate an audible alarm when it senses moisture.
- Water alarms can be placed on the floor or they may be wall mounted. The water alarm should be located in high-risk areas such as under sinks and near appliances and equipment that use water.
- Water alarms range in cost from $8 to $45.
- This device is only beneficial if someone is inside the home, hears the alarm and takes action to stop the leak.
Individual Appliance System
- Systems are installed on a specific appliance and will automatically shut off the water supply in the event of a leak.
- You may be able to install this system without any special tools. However, in some cases, a qualified plumber may be needed.
- Individual appliance systems range in cost from $50 to $150.
Whole House Systems
- Whole House Systems feature a shut-off valve that is installed on the main water supply piping. When a leak is detected, the system will automatically shut off the entire water supply.
- Some models can be integrated with a local or central station security system.
- If you travel often, this type of system could offer you additional peace-of-mind while you are away from home.
- Whole-house systems typically take between four and six hours to install and cost between $500 and $1,500 depending on labor rates and size.
