Generally, a homeowner’s insurance policy will cover basic water damage claims all the way up to the purchased limit. However there is something that is a lot easier to do than go through these claims, and that is preventing water damage to your home in the first place. Here are four tips and pointers on how to prevent water damage to your home:
1. Be Careful Where You Plant
There are certain trees and plants which have roots that are very invasive. If you are not careful, they can easily grow right into your drainage field, sprinkler system, septic tanks, and pipes. Make sure that when planting you plan to keep all routes away from your water lines.
2. Clean Out Your Roof Gutters
This should already be on your to-do list, however, make sure that you regularly check your gutters. If you see that there are birds’ nests, leaves, sticks, etc. up there, then your gutters are probably not able to properly do their job. If it is raining, a clogged gutter can cause water to spill into the foundation of your home, through the roof and down to the basement causing serious water damage. Make sure that your gutters are cleaned, even if it requires hiring a professional to clean them.
3. Opt For a Drain Snake over Unclogging Chemicals
Regardless of how clean you are clogs will happen in your shower and even in your sinks. The chances are that at some point or another, you have used some of those power drain cleaners to unclog your sinks or showers. However, even though they are very convenient, most people not realize how chaotic those chemical are and that not only could they be eating away at your pipes, they are not very good for your health.
If they are something you rely on a lot, you could be causing leaks later down the line. This is why a great way of clearing away clogs is by owning a drain snake. They are not very expensive and can be easily found at your local hardware store. These can be used to cut through almost any clog without causing damage to your pipes or your health.
4. Never Pour Grease down Your Sinks
This is probably something you have already heard of, however pouring grease down a kitchen sink is definitely something you should avoid. Whether you flush it with cold or hot water, it will still congeal and cling to the pipes, this can cause some major blockage and damage. There are those who use detergent to break up the grease prior to pouring it in the sink, something that can help however there are no guarantees that the grease will not stick to the pipes, so the best thing to do is avoid it all together.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure so instead of simply waiting until damage has occurred and filing a claim through your insurance, why not play it safe and prevent. It will save you a lot of time, frustration and maybe even money in the long run.