Water You Waiting For? 3 Steps You Can Take Today to Protect Your Home From Water Damage
Check your Check Valves!
Check Valves are an important part of your plumbing system as they prevent overflow from the sewer reaching your pipes. Check valves prevent the current from flowing backwards, as would happen if the sewers were flooding due to excess rainfall. This backflow will automatically be cut off from the rest of the system, keeping sewer water out of your home.
A check valve should be installed on all pipelines entering and exiting your home to prevent the system from overflowing. Additionally, these valves should be installed on the outlet side of pumps such as water pumps or sump pumps to prevent the water from flowing back into the pump and damaging it. While check valves can be installed on your own, getting an expert opinion on where your plumbing system needs these valves is important, as they can identify areas you may have missed or recommend more types of valves to protect your home.
Go With the Flow!
Knowing how rain leads to flooding and how it can be mitigated is essential for homeowners to help prevent water damage. The next time it rains (shouldn’t be too long with our lovely Chicagoland weather), be sure to check where water pools on your property. Water will try to flow downwards as best it can, so make sure that the lowest points of your property have proper drainage measures.
Ensuring proper drainage is imperative, as pooling water can seep into the ground, or even worse, your home. Make sure that water has routes to flow downhill away from your home. Be especially careful to make sure the mulch on your property has some space between it and the siding, and is sloped to prevent water from congregating, as wet mulch can cause the siding of your house to rot away. Surveying your property is important to see where landscaping features may lead to issues for your home.
Use Protective Coatings to Seal the Deal, and Your Home!
Speaking of lovely Chicago weather, winter can be brutal on your home as well, even without the rainfall. When it gets cold, water that has already made its way into the foundation will freeze and expand. This displaces the foundation and can lead to cracks and other damages, giving water a clear path into your home once rain begins again.
Checking your basement for damages is important, and any small cracks or holes can be fixed with store bought sealant. If your basement has windows, be sure to check those as well, as they can be a common point of entry for water.
Free Inspection from Aloha Restoration, Co.
While these tips are helpful in protecting your home from water and flood damage, some things may slip through the cracks, literally. That’s where Aloha Restoration, Co. comes in. With our free in-home assessment, we can help you protect your home before you become awash with flooding repair costs.
