In this article we’re going to look at three tips to help you prevent flood damage in your home. First, we’ll examine one of the most common causes of home floods – the washing machine. Next we’ll discuss ice damming on your roof. Finally we’ll finish up with preventing a leaky toilet. After reading this article, you’ll be able to prevent the most common causes of a flooded home.
First let’s go over the washing machine and proper maintenance of water lines.
Because the water lines are generally constantly under pressure, a broken water line to a washing machine can release a tremendous amount of water in a short period of time. Manufacturers generally recommend replacing water lines every 3-5 years, but a more effective solution is to replace the standard hoses with wire-braided, high pressure hoses available at almost any hardware supply store.
Next let’s cover ice damming on your roof. If you live in a location that gets snow and ice storms this is something that you should watch out for.
Heat loss from improper insulation in your attic can begin to melt snow or ice on the roof, which runs into the gutter. During night or at times of colder temperatures, the water re-freezes, forming ice in the gutter. After a period of time, the ice will move up the slope of the roof, potentially penetrating under the shingles and sheathing and into the attic or living area. Water damage then appears on the ceilings of rooms under this area. To prevent this, your attic should be properly insulated and ventilated.
Finally we’ll cover leaky toilets.
A leaky toilet can waste as much as 100 gallons of water each day. The easiest way to test for leaks is to put a few drops of food coloring in the tank and see if the color appears in the bowl – if so, you need to repair your toilet.
