The Effects of Water Damage and How to Prevent It

Water damage is a homeowner’s worst nightmare and should never be taken lightly or neglected. The effects can be harmful to you, your family and your house if not taken care of in a timely manner.

Preventing water damage is easier than you may think and is absolutely necessary because, if it’s ignored, the consequences can be extremely costly.

We’ll go over some of the effects of water damage and how to spot them. Plus, we’ll show you how to prevent it from happening in the first place.

Causes and Effects of Water Damage

Your home can experience water damage from a number of sources. Some of the major causes include:

• Leaky dishwashers
• Broken pipes
• Overflowing washing machines
• Roof leaks
• Foundation cracks
• Leaky windows and doors
• Poor exterior siding
• Faulty gutters
• Floods
• Sump pump failure

Whenever and however water enters your home, there’s potential for water damage. Although the causes of water damage can be from a number of different sources, the effects that come from unwanted water in the home remain fairly constant.

One of the worst effects of water damage is the growth and spreading of mold and mildew. Water-logged areas can see mold growth after just a couple of days.

It not only harms your home’s structural integrity but also harms you and your family’s health. It’s extremely important to rid your home of any mold as soon as possible.

Another huge effect that can occur from water damage is the contamination of black water. Black water is the worst type of water that can enter your home because it can contain pathogens that can cause serious illness if ingested.

Damaged appliances, wiring and gas lines are also potential problems caused by water damage. Repairing or replacing these items can be very costly.

The effects of water damage can extend beyond just these scenarios. If you do experience water damage, then you should contact a water damage restoration company.

How to Prevent Water Damage

There are a number of ways to help prevent unwanted water from entering your home. Preparing your home to fight against water damage is very important and will save you a lot of time, stress and money if you do experience a flood or other heavy precipitation.

We’ve come up with some surefire ways to prevent water from ruining your home.

Maintain Proper Drainage

Poor drainage can cause major foundation problems for your home. It weakens your foundation which can lead to cracks, uneven settling and other pathways for water to enter your home.

You can prevent poor drainage by having properly functioning gutters. Also, be sure to clean your gutters regularly so water flows away from your foundation.

Another way to keep proper drainage is to make sure your yard slopes downward from your foundation. Anything you can do to minimize the amount of water that comes in contact with your foundation is good practice to prevent water damage.

Test Your Sump Pump

Sump pumps are a huge determining factor in whether your home is able to fight against water damage or not. The last thing you want is to learn that your sump pump isn’t working while it’s storming.

To avoid this problem, routinely test your sump pump to make sure it’s working properly.

It’s very easy to test your sump pump. Simply fill it with water slowly and check to see if the float rises and in return the water levels fall. If this doesn’t happen, then you need to repair or replace your sump pump.

If your home is prone to flooding, power outages and severe storms, you may also want to consider a battery operated sump pump. The extra expense could be well worth it in helping prevent water pouring into your basement.

Check for Any Leaks Around the House

Leaks that go unnoticed or ignored can obviously lead to big problems down the road. They can cause mold, mildew, rotting, termites and other pests.

Go around your house and check for any dark spots under pipes, stains on the ceilings or walls and any other dripping water.

It’s important to check your roof as well for any leaks and repair any missing or damaged shingles.

If your windows are showing signs of leaking, the seals may be compromised and you should strongly consider replacing your windows. Vinyl windows from Feldco are designed for the Midwest and will protect your home from the elements.

Drafty, uneven doors can be a major contributor to leaks in the home. You can try to install some weatherstripping on the bottom, but that may not be enough and you could need a full replacement door.

Entry doors from Feldco are made from either steel or fiberglass and offer the ultimate durability and energy efficiency for your home in order to help prevent water damage.

Check Your Exterior Siding

Having durable and dependable siding is a must as a homeowner. Faulty or worn out siding can easily let water into your home.

The only real way to limit water damage via exterior siding is to have vinyl siding installed. Wood siding can easily rot and warp which can lead to water damage and pest problems.

Vinyl siding from Feldco will never rot, warp, crack or expand under extreme weather conditions. It’s also resistant to termites and other pests. Your home will be properly protected from water damage with vinyl siding.

Keep Your Home Dry and Avoid Water Damage

Along with regular maintenance of your pipes, sump pump, roof and appliances, you can trust Feldco to provide your home with excellent protection against water damage with our industry leading windows, siding and doors.

Living in the Midwest, you know that your home will face heavy precipitation. It only makes sense to go with a company that designs its products specifically for the Midwestern climate.

If you find that any of your windows, siding or doors are not functioning the way they should, contact Feldco by getting a free quote online or by calling 866-4FELDCO for your next replacement project.