January 5, 2022
Water damage to your home or business can happen anytime, often without warning. Nearly every corner of your home or business can have opportunities for water damage from plumbing breaks to ground water or roofing leaks that can enter your home. Luckily, you’ve got a friend in the water mitigation business. SMART Environmental Services’s local team of experts is ready and waiting to come to your rescue.
It’s a nightmare scenario. You’re visiting family for the holidays and return home to find that your washing machine supply hose has burst, flooding your finished basement with several inches of water. Or you start the dishwasher on your way out of the house for a busy day at work, and come home to find your kitchen ankle deep in soapy water. Incidents like these, as well as heavy rains and floods, make water damage one of the most common problems to impact homes and businesses each year. In fact, according to Policygenius, 1 in 50 insured homes filed a water damage claim from 2015 to 2019. The average water damage claim payout during the same period was over $11,000! With the increase in severe weather events and floods, water damage will likely become even more common.
Though we often think about flooding with the heavy spring rains, water damage can happen even in the winter months. There are some things you can do to help ensure that your home doesn’t get damaged.
Inside:
- Inspect hoses and faucets. Check supply lines for your water heater, dishwasher, refrigerator and washing machine. Replace them every few years or when they display signs of wear.
- Inspect showers and tubs to ensure caulking is undamaged.
- Shut off the water when you leave the home for extended periods.
- Never leave appliances running when you aren’t at home.
- Know where your emergency water shut off valve is located, and make sure it is clearly marked.
Outside:
- Make sure the exterior caulk around doors and windows is in good condition.
- Inspect your roof for leaks or damage.
- Check gutters and downspouts to ensure they are not clogged. Installing gutter guards is a good preventive measure.
- Check the foundation for areas where water pools after a rainstorm to make sure water isn’t getting into your basement.
- In the event of heavy snowfall or an ice storm, make sure that an ice dam does not develop on your roof.
If the worst happens and you experience water damage to your home or business, call the experts at SMART Environmental Services. Our professional water mitigation teams will come to your location, assess the damage and formulate a strategy to get it cleaned up fast. Our teams use state-of-the-art equipment and advanced methods to quickly extract and dry water in your home or business. We know that with water damage, time is of the essence. The sooner we can get the water out, the more likely it is that we can avoid secondary damage and mold growth. Our goal is to minimize demolition and reconstruction costs.
Posted in Water Damage
