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Preventing Water Damage In Your Home

By Luke Armstrong

There are many different ways to find water leaks in your home.  The following are popular appliances and places that can cause water damage in your home.

Flooded houseRefrigerator Water Damage

–    If you believe the leak is coming from the back, it may be from the icemaker valve.  When the fridge is sending water to the ice machine, you should be able to tell if water is leaking from the hose.  If this is the case, a simple valve replacement should do the trick.
–    Icemaker gears can also break.  You can notice this if there is a large amount of ice buildup in your tray.
–    Condensation is also a common problem with refrigerators, this can be caused by extreme temperatures in either the fridge or freezer.  The trim or gasket may need replacing as well.  If your fridge isn’t closing properly, then temperatures cannot regulate, causing your fridge to leak.

Bathroom Water Damage

–    Bathtubs can be prone to water leaks.  Make sure your tub is thoroughly caulked to ensure that no water gets between the tub and wall.
–     Leaks from sinks can be easily detected as well.  Condensation can start to accumulate below your sink.  Make sure your personal items are not crowding pipes, which could cause further problems.
–    You should also check valves.  Tightening you water pipes should ensure leaks don’t come back.

Washing Machine Water Damage

–    First, you need to make sure you are never over stuffing your washing machine.  This will create uneven loads, causing water to leak from the top or hoses.  Keep in mind the excess amounts of soap can cause leaks as well.
–    Your supply hose may be rusty or old.  You can fix these by turning off your water supply and unscrewing them from the back.  You then can pry out the old washers and replace them.
–     Inside hoses can be a problem as well.  Remove the back panel and assess the hoses while your machine starts a load.  This will allow you to figure out which hose is causing the leak.
–    Keep in mind that keeping a tray under your washing machine will help by protecting your floors from excess water.

Check out LCRA for water regulations and other ways to find out water leaks in your home.

If you have experienced large amounts of water damage to your home, call a professional water damage restoration company.  Check out RestorationMasterFinder.com for a local service provider near you.