How To React To Water Damage

Water should be diagnosed with bi-polar disorder; am I right? One minute it is coursing through your pipes, a powerful agent for good! It is helping you cook, hydrate the lawn, and clean your body in a nice, warm shower, but, the next minute, it is sitting in your basement totally stagnant! We at Rumsey Construction know that water can transition from being a friend to a foe very fast. When it does, it can quickly cause odors, mold, and structural damage to your Columbia home.

Inspect your appliances and associated hoses. Replacing worn-out appliances and hoses is a small fix that can save you big bucks and time. Many appliances have a timeframe that you can expect to need to replace them; pay attention to them as the time approaches and pay attention to signs that they might be aging fast. Look out for water-induced discolorations, bulging, water lines, or old filters. Replace these things before they cause flooding or other water damage!

Pay attention to your water bill. If you have a relatively constant, predictable water bill that suddenly spikes one month, there is a good chance you have a leak somewhere and you are paying for water that is damaging your home. (So, you’ll pay for it later too. Yikes.) Alternatively, perhaps you have a toilet or other appliance that is constantly running instead of shutting off when it needs to. Usually, this is a relatively quick fix.

Maintain the exterior of your home. Clean out your gutters periodically to prevent sagging, changes in the way they are shaped, and standing water. Remove stray branches or loose debris from your roof if it is significant or has been sitting on it for more than a few days without moving. In addition, pay attention to the attached branches and roots of the trees in your landscaping, and make sure they don’t grow too close to your home; a root that runs into the structure of a room in your basement, for example, can be crowded and cause serious pressure and increased chances of water being let in through a side or corner into your home.

Insulate your pipes. One of the most common causes of flooding is a pipe that has burst, usually due to freezing. Intensive heat can also cause pipes to burst. Call a professional for help insulating your pipes, or buy an insulation tape (which can be found at many local hardware stores or online), and go at it yourself!

Before you leave town for vacations, shut off your water! The importance of this tip actually cannot be overstated. This can help prevent a flood happening while you are away – flooding that often has the highest consequences because water damage compounds over time- what starts as just some clean water to be removed, becomes dirty water, mold, odors, and general moisture all over. The longer the water waits, the more problems you have on your hands.

With that in mind, if you do experience flooding or other water damage, getting help immediately can help you minimize the damages associated with your water damage. Rumsey Construction and Restoration should be your first call if you’re experiencing water damage in Columbia, South Carolina. Our team is waiting and ready to help, with the urgency you want and the expertise you need.