10 Great Tips for Preventing Water Damage in Austin

5/24/2017 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of East Central Austin Professionals are available 24 hours/7 days a week and will respond quickly to a restoration emergency.

Stop Water Damage Before It Starts in Your Austin Home or Business

The thought of water damage to your Austin home or business got you down? Water damage occurs frequently in Austin, but the good news is there are some preventative tips you can take to help prevent or stop water damage before it progresses.

Leaky pipes and faulty hoses are often guilty culprits that should not be ignored. While easily replaceable, if you don't regularly check for leaks in these items, you might find yourself getting into a situation with extensive and costly water damage to your Austin home or business that could be difficult to repair.

However, there are some steps you can take to prevent any kind of water damage to your Austin home or business. It’s as easy as checking all of your leaky pipes, hoses and appliances.

Internal Household Water Damage Problems and Solutions

1. Your Appliances Can Be Your Enemy

We hate to put it that way, but it's true. And while we all have a need for household appliances, they also need to be taken care of over time. If these appliances should have leaky pipes and hoses, then take note, severe water damage is not that far away.

When you take into account all the water that’s being used by your washing machine and dishwasher, it's understandable how little leaks can quickly turn into messy situations, and if this goes on unattended, you may find that professional water extraction may be necessary. A small tear in a hose or pipe can expand if left alone and leak up to 200 gallons of water daily.

Your refrigerator can also be a guilty party, especially if it has an ice maker, which, let's face it, most modern refrigerators do. Many refrigerators with ice makers have copper pipes that funnel water to help produce the ice.

Should these pipes bend or crack, or if they aren’t fastened properly, then you’ll likely be dealing with a water leak. Copper pipes have a tendency to bend, so give your refrigerator a space of a few inches, so that the pipes don't get crushed, and you should alleviate your chances of water damage issues.

Think of how much water goes through your dishwasher. Gallons of water actually pass through its supply and discharge pipes…now imagine a leak in those pipes and the amount of water damage if the pipes aren't checked regularly? It’s not a pretty picture, your entire kitchen can be filled with soapy water.

While cracks in the pipes can often be the cause of this, you should also keep the pipes clear of food, which can break off during the wash cycle and clog your pipes. Be sure to always wash and rinse your dishes, cups and silverware before running your dishwasher, and make sure your dishwasher is full before you start it. Making sure it's full will use the water more effectively and help to prevent any possible flooding.

2. Give Your Water Main an Inspection

Locating where your water main is can also help prevent water damage. While Austin is usually warm, we do occasionally experience freezing temps in the winter. If the weather goes below freezing and stays there for a while, this can affect the integrity of your plumbing. Freezing temperatures and frost in Austin can cause damage to your plumbing and water main, especially if your outdoor spigots start to leak.

If you suspect leaks, the first test is to find your water main and turn it off, so you can check for any leaking pipes inside and outside. If you see any unexpected water leakage, such as a puddle on the floor or water stained walls, you may have a problem and if it's a real problem, you could require water extraction by SERVPRO . If it hasn't gone on too long, you may be able to remedy this with changing some pipes and hoses, but if it persists, then you should call a professional for more investigative work.

3. Upgrade Your Washing Machine Hoses to Prevent Increased Chances of Water Damage

If your washing machine has a leaky hose or a broken supply line, you could face major flooding. Washing machines hoses are actually a leading cause of water damage, because they’re used so frequently that they have a greater tendency to leak and break over multiple uses. This is why it’s important to inspect your washing machine hoses several times throughout the year for any kind of leaks as well as wear and tear. Another way to help determine if your washer has a leak is to install an automatic shut off valve, which will shut off the machine if pools of water should appear.

Shut-off valves vary in price, depending on what type you get, but can actually save you a bundle if you use them as a preventive measure against flooding and water damage.

4. Keep an Eye on Water Pressure in Your Austin home or Business

Another issue that can cause water damage Austin is if your water pressure is set too high. Checking the water pressure can help reduce the overall flow of water in your home or business. Using a water pressure gauge will help determine the correct flow through your hoses and pipes; they can be purchased at most hardware stores and are easy to operate. Simply attach the gauge to an outdoor faucet, turn on the water at full force and you’ll see the reading.

Standard water pressure should usually be between 40 to 70 psi. If you find that the pressure is, in fact, at too high a level, it can greatly affect your pipes and hoses. If your pressure exceeds 100 psi, then you’ll probably need a pressure regulator, which can help bring the pressure down.

5. Water Detectors: A Worthy Investment

Water detectors can be extremely helpful if you’re unable to check your hoses and pipes on a frequent basis. They are definitely helpful in identifying water leaks and preventing water damage Austin in addition to mold.

They are fairly affordable electronic devices that detect low moisture levels and alert you when water or moisture makes an unwanted appearance. They’re important in that they help find leaks and water spots that are often missed. It's recommended to get several of these to place near appliances, such as toilets, dishwashers, washing machines, water heaters, and sump pumps.

6. Check Your Water Bill

Another useful way to determine if you have leaks or pressure issues is to check your water bill. If your bill is pretty consistent, but then suddenly you notice a massive rise in cost, you may have a problem that needs further investigation to discover if you have leaks in your Austin business or home. Don’t ignore a rise in your water bill. You should thoroughly investigate places such as crawlspaces (some exist in Austin as well), under cabinets, walls, hoses and all of your indoor and outdoor plumbing for water damage. It may be inconvenient to check everything, but it’s better to be thorough, than to face the results of extensive water damage.

7. If You Live in Austin and Have a Leak, Get It Fixed

Any leak, even the smallest and most insignificant one, should be immediately addressed. While many leaks can be remedied with a simple repair, such as replacing a hose, others may require more extensive work and can become more serious if neglected. A burst pipe can cause major water damage, leading to the need for water extraction and water damage cleanup.

If the area is not properly cleaned, you’ll begin to see the spread of mold, mildew and dry rot.

Preventing External Water Damage Problems in Austin

8. Keep Track of Your Garden/Lawn Hoses

Whether you like to garden or you occasionally water the plants in the backyard, we often leave our garden hoses attached to the outdoor spigot. While it’s common to do this in Austin, where it’s usually warm, it’s not advisable in colder weather. Granted, Austin doesn't have a typical winter like the northeast and midwest, but it does get cold here, and if you leave your hoses connected when there’s a freeze, then there can be problems. There is actually a very substantial risk for water damage if you leave your hoses connected during a freeze.

Standing water in a hose can be a big problem as the water, once it freezes, can create a chunk of ice that gets lodged and prevents the flow of water. There is a high risk your pipes will burst if this type of blockage occurs, which can be expensive to remedy. Burst pipes can wreak havoc on your floors, walls and even your foundation. So always be sure to disconnect your hoses in the winter in Austin.

9. Clogged Gutters and Downspouts: Another Potential Water Damage Problem in Austin

If you ignore your gutters, and don't clean them often, you can face potential water damage. With leaves and branches flying all over the place, it’s inevitable that they will find their way into your gutters and get stuck. Once they get stuck, then the proper flow of water is restricted, and water can splatter all over your walls, causing not just problems with your gutters, but also with your foundation over time.

Gutters should be cleaned roughly twice a year to ensure that there’s a proper flow with no blockages. You should also check your roof if possible for any standing water; not only can these breed mosquitoes, but if the water just sits there, it can damage your roof, and those repairs are expensive.

In addition to your gutters, check your downspouts, which can also become blocked if neglected. Always point them away from your structure, so that water doesn't come in contact with your foundation. This will help prevent water damage Austin as the water is relocated away from your walls and flows into your yard.

10. Trees and Vegetation Can Affect your Pipes

If you have underground plumbing, utility pipes or a sprinkler system in your backyard, then there will be potential for your trees and shrubs to come into contact with your pipes. If not monitored, the roots of the trees and shrubs can become problematic. Their roots can actually grow deep into the ground and wrap themselves around your pipes. If you find you have problems with your utility pipes in Austin, then the roots may in fact be strangling them. If this is the case, then you may have to dig up and move trees, shrubs or other types of vegetation to get to the root of the problem (no pun intended).

How SERVPRO of East Central Austin Can Help

If you experience water damage and your damage is beyond something you can remedy on your own, SERVPRO of East Central Austin provides 24-hour emergency service for water damage needs. Our highly trained technicians will respond immediately to your residential or commercial emergency.

We can help with all aspects of water damage Austin, including water extraction, water damage cleanup and water damage restoration. We use only top of the line equipment for our cleanup services, and we make it "Like it never even happened."

Need help with your water damage issues? Call us at SERVPRO today at (512) 420- 9886.