Ways to Prevent Water Damage

If a leak is left unattended for a long enough period of time, it can lead to water damage. Water damage isn’t just unsightly—warping and discoloring your walls, floors, and ceiling. It can also lead to mildew and mold. It’s no secret that mold loves water. Darkness and dampness are ideal living conditions for mold. So, ensure that you and your family stay safe from the effects of mold in your home and your home stays safe from the eyesore effects of water damage while you’re away. Here are 3 ways to prevent water damage on vacation.

1.    Check for Exterior Leaks

You could have a roof leak and not even know it. Your attic provides a nice barrier between you and your roof, and really, how much time do you spend in your attic anyway? Like most homeowners, you probably use it for storage and don’t think about what’s up there until you need to bring down the holiday decorations. That gives any leaks that may have formed plenty of time to snuggle up with your cardboard boxes and make mold.

In a similar vein, air leaks next to your windows and exterior doors can easily become water leaks. If you’re seeing discoloration around your doors and windows, then you have water damage and it’s likely that you have mold as well.

Check for the leaks and patch them up before you go on vacation to avoid water damage and mold growth.

2.    Check Your Pipes for Leaks

This is a little more obvious, but the pipes beneath your kitchen and bathroom sinks are going to be major sources of water damage and huge resting places for mold. As obvious as this is though, it’s not as likely that you’ll think to check your pipes for leaks before you go on vacation.

Before you head out the door, just give a little look around in the cabinets beneath your sinks. You’ll be able to tell right away if there’s water damage. Just to be safe, you might set a small basin beneath the pipes for a few days before you go to see if water accumulates there.

3.    Find the Water Shut-Off Valve

Just to be on the safe side, you might consider locating your water shut-off valve and switching if off. If water isn’t running, then the likelihood of water damage (and mold) decreases considerably. However, this won’t protect your home from any external leaks.

Please note: We do not recommend turning off your water valve if you believe there will be a freeze warning while you’re away on vacation. Water needs to stay moving to keep from freezing, so turning off your water shut-off valve at the wrong time could lead to your pipes bursting—which, of course, can cause more water damage than you might have imagined.

Call RestoPros

While these ways to prevent water damage are all DIY, you should never attempt mold removal or remediation on your own. Coming into contact with mold can make you sick, cause respiratory issues, and even lead to more serious illnesses. Always have a licensed mold remediation specialist handle mold removal for you. Call RestoPros now to talk to one of our friendly representatives about your options and to schedule an appointment today.