Minneapolis knows the drill: dry off with a towel after showering, don’t leave the hose on, and make sure the rain gutters are nice and secure. That’s basic water damage prep 101, right? Actually, yes. We won’t trick you into thinking there’s some little secret about avoiding water damage. Most people can successfully avoid water catastrophes (trust us, if you’ve ever had water damage, you’d call it a catastrophe too) by simply being aware of their surroundings and making sure to clean up that leftover juice spill from last night. However, a lot of times, water damage comes from more than just human error. Cue the kitchen and bathroom appliances.
Appliances are one of the leading causes of water damage in Minneapolis. If you’ve ever purchased your own appliances, you’re probably not surprised. To be an educated user of appliances, it’s a wise idea to learn a few ins and outs of the appliance, just to avoid frustration (and freezing cold laundry water) in the future. Here are a few tips and tricks from our water damage cleanup experts to care for your appliances and be at the pro level of a homeowner.
Tucked away in a little dark corner of the house that no one ever sees, is the hot and cold water supply lines to your washing machine. These little water damage predators can easily go unnoticed. Most of the time, damage occurs when (maybe out of frustration, we don’t judge), you push the appliance a little farther back than it actually should go. Crack, snap, pop. Even though these hoses are made from pretty high quality material (usually reinforced rubber), they can develop tears and rips just like any other appliance. Moral of the story? Check the hoses at least once a year. If they’re looking good for a while, you’re probably in decent shape. However, after about 5 years, it’s probably a good idea to replace them. Better to replace an old water hose than have to deal with some unsightly water damage. (Let’s be honest though, even if you aren’t always game to deal with unsightly water damage, we are. We got you.)
The average American family uses about 40 gallons of water per day in the shower alone. Don’t know about you, but we’d say that is definitely a hot-spot (or cold spot if you like cold showers) for some disastrous water damage. Here’s the reason showers are such a huge culprit: most of the main connection points are hidden. Leak? Can’t tell from the outside. Crack in the pipe? Invisible. Status of the homeowner after the leak occurs? Mega frustrated. We get it. (Again, need we say it again, but we are here for you in all areas of water damage cleanup frustration). So here are some fool-proof ways to know your shower.
First, look for shower head leaks. Showerhead leaks are among the most common throughout the entire house. When purchasing a shower head, don’t skimp. Invest in a high-quality model that keeps leaks to a minimum. Plus, you’ll get a much better shower experience. Second, every so often, make sure the drain is tight. A loose drain means that water will leak underneath the tub, creating repairs that are much more time-intensive and costly than the prevention would cost. Lastly, if you have a stand-alone shower, it’s wise to have the grout inspected every 2-3 years. Since most stand-alone showers are now encased in heavy-duty watertight walls and flooring, cracks are much more likely in these types of showers.
Standard tank water heaters have warranties that can last anywhere from 6-12 years. (Don’t we wish everything had that kind of warranty?) Here’s a little secret that is largely undiscovered by homeowners: some of these warranties cover inspections. Instead of waiting for the damage to occur, be proactive, and have the water heater inspected regularly. Then, if anything does go amiss, you’ll likely catch it before the warranty runs out, guaranteeing a free service. In the meantime, if you’d rather not pay an inspector, you can perform a few basic tests yourself. First, check the pressure relief valve. Too much pressure means an unlucky pool of water on the floor. The drain valve also has a tendency to be backed up with sediment. Check it every year to remove any unwanted buildup.
The advanced level of water damage cleanup prep is to call 24Restore. We’ve got an excellent team of water damage cleanup experts should anything leak, pop, bend, or break in any way it shouldn’t. Take it easy and let us help you out.