Category Archives: Water Damage

Preventing Water Damage

water damage

Inspect interior plumbing components and complete preventive maintenance measures to reduce chances of interior water damage:

1. Toilet clogging or overflowing. Signs that there is a problem are obvious when it comes to toilets, as they’re generally typified by water overflowing over the seat or not being able to flush water because something is blocking the drainage system. If this issue isn’t solved in a timely fashion, it can cause serious damage.

Homeowners can help prevent these issues from materializing by inspecting the toilet’s components two to three times per year. Some of the main things to look at are the toilet’s fill, supply, and flush valves. If they appear worn or damaged, a home improvement store should have the parts and pieces needed to replace them.

2. General plumbing problems. Another issue homeowners face is with their home’s plumbing system overall. Homeowners should look for rust stains around pipes, water stains on walls or ceilings, or hearing random, abrasive noises coming from the pipes. Much of the piping originally installed in Outer Banks homes was polybutelene, which is now known to have a high failure rate and has resulted in class action lawsuits against the manufacturers. Know what kind of plumbing you have, and what to watch for!

3. Washing machine and ice maker failures. Washing machine and ice maker failures are quite common and can cost a bundle to fix. One major issue that occurs is when the machine’s hoses explode, or are pulled lose from their plumbing connections. With so many rental properties on the beach, these appliances are pulled away from the wall for cleaning, which can tax the supply hose or the connections. Make sure you have copper or braided metal supply lines, and have a plumber check all of your fixtures and connections once a year.

Winterize Your Vacation Home

1. Inspect your property – Take a walk around the inside and outside of your property to see if anything has been damaged. Create a checklist based of what you find and decide if it’s something that should be fixed now or when you open your home next spring. Items to inspect include your roof, chimney, eaves troughs, siding, foundation, trees that are leaning over your property, and out buildings.

2. Turn off the water – Turn off the water at the main supply point to prevent freezing pipes. Even if you keep your home heated during the winter, this is important in case your furnace fails or the power goes out.

3. Open your faucets and drain all water lines, including your appliances – Even if you turn off the water at the main supply into the home, it’s also important to drain the excess water from the water lines that run to your appliances, sinks, and toilets.

4. Leave the heat on at 55 degrees – Leaving the heat on will help moderate humidity and prevent wood damage or pipe freezing.

5. Water flow monitoring systems – If you choose to leave your water on during the winter, consider purchasing a water flow monitoring system. A water flow monitoring system is attached to your water main and protects your entire house. The system works by measuring water flow into your house. If it detects continuous water flow beyond the normal stopping and starting of your every day appliances, it stops the flow of water into your house automatically.

6. Empty and clean your appliances

• Refrigerator/freezer – Remove all food and wipe them down with a disinfectant that kills bacteria. After you’ve cleaned it, consider leaving your refrigerator/freezer doors slightly ajar to prevent mold and mildew growth. This will also prevent smells from getting into the plastic. Consider putting a box of baking soda inside.

• Oven – Like your refrigerator, wipe it down with a disinfectant that kills bacteria and unplug it or turn off the gas.
• Washing machine/dryer – If you’re lucky enough to have these appliances at your summer home, disconnect the hoses and unplug them. If you want to disinfect your washing machine, consider running a normal cycle with vinegar or whatever cleanser your manufacturer recommends.
• Water heater – Drain your water heater and turn off the disconnect or breaker, or switch it to vacation mode.

7. Store outdoor furniture and other expensive items in a locked garage or shed – If there isn’t storage space available on your property, consider renting a storage unit, or moving items inside.

8. Unplug your appliances and electronics – This tip will protect your appliances and electronics from power surges and lightning strikes.

9. Update your home inventory for your summer home –Make sure your contents inventory is up to date. If your vacation home was damaged by fire, storm, or water leak, you will need an inventory to be reimbursed for damage. You will have to updated it for the summer rental season, so why not get a head start!

10. Inspect your fireplace – If you have a wood burning fireplace that you’ve used for a number of years without cleaning, consider having it inspected and cleaned by a reputable chimney sweep. Creosote is a residue that travels up your chimney and builds up on your flue over time. In fact, some creosote builds up every time a wood burning fireplace is lit. If that residue isn’t properly cleaned out, the chance of a fire igniting in your chimney increases.