Tag: winter leak prevention

How to Avoid Water Damage in Your Home

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How to Avoid Water Damage in Your Home

Water damage is a serious threat to you and your home, and it doesn’t take much water to do serious damage. The fact is, an undetected small leak can cause more damage than a major leak that’s detected right away. Many plumbing leaks happen in areas where they might go unseen or unnoticed for weeks. Leaks located behind walls, under floors, underground, or those that happen while you’re away can be costly to the homeowner.

What’s more, you also have to think about rain and flood damage, because while homeowners insurance will cover most sudden accidents, it does not cover flood damage or leaks caused by unresolved maintenance issues. Fortunately for you, the professionals at RestoPros – the leading mold and water remediation company for the greater DFW Metroplex – are going to show you a few things so you know how to avoid water damage in your home.

  1. Invest in a Leak Detector.

Leak detectors are a great way to ensure that you know about a possible leak before it has time to do any damage. While these gadgets used to cost a lot, they’ve come down in price over the years. Some of the most popular brands are available for less than $50 and should have enough sensors to cover your water heater, dishwasher, refrigerator, and washing machine. The sensors work by detecting moisture. If they detect moisture where there shouldn’t be any, they send a notification to your phone, alerting you to the trouble.

  1. Check Your Gutters for Obstructions.

One of the more common ways water enters you home is through the roof. Sometimes that’s because you have damage to your roof or are missing shingles, perhaps due to a storm or high winds. The other way is much sneakier in its attack. Rather than pounding its way inside the home, it reverses directions and sneaks in through perfectly good shingles. Shingles are designed to be a watershed for water flowing down your roof, but they don’t work so well if that water reverses direction. When gutters and down spouts are obstructed and clogged with debris like leaves and vermin, they begin to act like a dam of sorts. As water backs up behind this dam, it enters home by travelling in the opposite direction the shingles were designed for. This can cause major damage to walls, ceilings, and electronics.

  1. Annual Maintenance Checks.

All pipes, lines, and machines that produce or carry water need to be inspected once a year for signs of wear or damage. Think of it as your home’s annual physical. Like putting off getting a check-up from your doctor, putting off your home’s inspection can lead to more problems and damage later. Nothing lasts forever, so do yourself and your home a huge favor this year and schedule an annual check-up with a qualified professional. These inspections can detect problems to come before those problems come for you.

 

While we hope these tips will help you avoid water damage in your home, they’re no substitute for an experienced professional. The water damage experts at RestoPros have a long-standing reputation for expertise, professionalism, and hard work. If you’re looking for a skilled and highly trained technician for mold testing, mold remediation, water damage restoration, or HVAC duct cleaning anywhere in the Dallas Metroplex, call us at (855) 58-RESTO (855-587-3786) to schedule an appointment today!

Don’t Let Water Damage Break Your Heart (This Valentine’s Day)

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Water damage can be a serious problem for Dallas/Ft. Worth homeowners, and with Valentine’s Day right around the corner, it’s last thing you want to see. Even though our winters are relatively mild, freezing temperatures are still an occurrence. Having your pipes freeze can cause them to crack and burst – and the occasional ice and snow can contribute to roof and foundation leaks. Water can ruin metal, damage drywall, and lead to mold growth.

Luckily, RestoPros is here to help those winter leaks from damaging in your home. Don’t let water damage ruin your home this Valentine’s Day, or any day for that matter. Instead, work to prevent it and live comfortably with the winter weather. As the water damage experts, we have compiled a list of tips for prevention:

Monitor Your Sinks

  • Watch what goes down your disposal, as certain organic detritus can clog your pipes, causing water pressure to increase and burst your plumbing.
  • Fatty and greasy substances such as lard, cooking oil, and bacon grease can harden and clog your pipes, regardless of the water temperature.
  • Soap scum and starchy food residue can also be lodged inside your drain.
  • If your sink is clogged, use a sink plunger to remove any initial build-up (kitchen sinks most commonly experience clogged garbage disposals).
  • Use a drain snake to remove clogs lying deep within your pipes.

Protect Against Winter Leaks

  • With Valentine’s Day residing in winter, Dallas/Ft. Worth residents are still at risk for winter leakage.
  • Be sure to clear you gutters and downspouts, along with sealing your doors and windows.
  • More info about preventing winter leaks can be found here.

Examine Major Appliances Regularly

  • Refrigerators and washing machines should be maintained regularly – and inspected closely for leaks.
  • On the back of these major appliances are hoses connected to the water supply; these hoses should be examined every few months.
  • Examine each hose for dripping, tears, loose connections, or knots.
  • After an examination, be sure each hose is hidden and not at risk of being stepped on or tripped over.

Maintain Outdoor Plants and Trees

  • Although they seem harmless, plants and trees with invasive roots can burrow towards your plumbing and potentially cause unsuspecting damage.
  • Trees such as willows, birches, and poplar all have invasive roots, and plants such as boxwood shrubs and ivy follow suit.
  • Plan where you plant your vegetation and avoid having these close to your plumbing.

Monitor Your Water Bill

  • Since your plumbing system is complex, identifying a burst pipe or water damage may seem difficult at first, but your water bill can be a notification.
  • An high increase in your water bill may mean your plumbing is losing water in a certain area, and this lost water may be affecting an area you can’t see.

Prevent water damage for Valentine’s Day and avoid the broken heart that comes with expensive repairs. If you are experiencing water damage in your home, contact RestoPros immediately. Being the leading water and mold restoration company in Dallas/Ft. Worth, our water damage services ensure your home is restored to a safe and quality condition. Give us a call at 855-587-3786 to schedule an appointment and meet your local professionals. Happy Valentine’s Day!

 

 

Keeping Your Home Free from Winter Leaks

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With winter coming fast in Dallas/Fort Worth, expect to see higher chances of rain, ice, and possibly snow if we’re lucky (or unlucky depending on your preference). For some, cold winds and frozen precipitation are just general nuisances, but don’t let your concerns stop there. Rain, ice, and snow all have chances of leaking into your home, which if left unattended can cause water damage and mold growth. Although winter is supposed to be a season of relaxation and comfort, don’t let water get cozy inside your home.

RestoPros knows that a homeowner should be prepared for potential winter leaks. Our experience as water damage and mold remediation professionals has given us extensive knowledge on how to prevent it in your home, and with winter bringing a higher chance of precipitation, practicing this knowledge will keep your mind at ease during the cold season. Thus, we have provided some tips and guidance on keeping your home free from winter leaks.

Downspout

• Clogged downspouts lead to fast build-up on your gutters as there is no passage for water and debris to escape.
• Make sure you clean your downspout before cleaning your gutter, as this allows mud and debris from your gutter to safely flush through your downspout.
• Place a water hose inside the downspout from the bottom to flush out any clogging.
• You can use a screwdriver to take apart the bottom of your downspout for easier access to clogged areas.
• After you flush out and unclog your downspout, reattach any parts you removed and begin cleaning your gutter.

Gutters

• Brisk and cold winds add both excess rain, mud, and leaves to your gutters, and less space for waterflow means water can spill around the gutter and even leak into your walls.
• Clogged gutters also begin to deteriorate if left unattended, and prolonged build-up may even cause your gutter to break from being unable to support the weight.
• Make sure to practice ladder safety when cleaning gutters: keep ladder legs locked and stable, have someone supervise the bottom, and never go more than three steps from the top.
• Clear the debris from gutters using your hands, and use a water hose to flush out mud and other debris.
• Be sure to check the corners of your gutters, as they easily become clogged.
• If you don’t want to use a ladder, there are gutter cleaning wands that allows you to unclog gutters.

Doors

• Rain, ice, and snow can enter in through the small cracks of your home, and your door has many openings for unwanted precipitation.
• Weather stripping can be bought at your local department store, and is used to seal the sides and bottom of your doors to prevent cold air and precipitation from coming in through the cracks.
• Place doormats on both sides of a door to act as a shield from water and mud from shoes and paws.
• Equip your door with door bottoms to further prevent water coming from underneath.

Windows

• Windows have as much potential for leakage as doors, and with more windows in your home than doors, protecting and sealing them is a must.
• Weather stripping can be used to seal the sides of your windows, and this will help stop cold air and unwanted precipitation from entering in.
• Water resistant blinds and shades are available at your local department store to place over your windows.
• Water resistant curtains are available as well, and help add further protection from winter leaks.
Never let your home go unprotected from winter leakage. If you are experiencing winter leaks, water damage, or mold growth in your home, contact RestoPros immediately. Our dedication is for a safe home, and we provide expert water damage and mold remediation services to ensure your home stays protected for the winter season. Contact us at 855-587-3786 to schedule an appointment and meet your trusted mold and water experts.