Don't wait to take steps to protect your home from Water damage left behind by broken pipes or leaking appliances, until you are knee-deep in the water. What often starts out as a small leak or drip on your faucet for example can quickly wreak havoc and destroying your home and your personal belongings. Your simple mop up or major construction can mean the difference between Routine maintenance checkups and assistance from your qualified contractors



Mold Damage like rust, rot, and mildew is specifically excluded in your standard homeowners' policy. Most of your homeowners' policies will still pay to clean up and repair damage that is the result of your covered peril that is "sudden and accidental." For example, the cost of cleaning up water from your burst pipe is covered under the policy because water damage from your burst pipe is a covered peril.

Mold caused by water damage from an excessive humidity, leaks, condensation, or flooding is a maintenance issue for you as a property owner, like termite or mildew prevention, and is not covered by your policy. You should routinely clean up your mold brought by water damage before it grows large enough to become a hazard to your health. Usually mold can be removed by a thorough cleaning with the use of bleach and water.

Your Home Maintenance Checklist :

Water leaks can happen anywhere in your house, but they occur most frequently in your kitchen, your bathroom, and your laundry rooms. Whether it's a slow drip or a sudden burst, water leaks can cause extensive water damage to your home and your personal belongings.

Dishwasher : Periodically, You should check under the sink to see if the hose connection to your water supply line is secure and is not leaking. Check around the base of your dishwasher for evidence of leaks.

Refrigerator : If your refrigerator has an icemaker or freezer you should check the hose connection to make sure it is securely attached to your water supply line. The wet spot you see on the floor near your refrigerator may be a melted ice cubes or it may be a crimped icemaker or freezer line about to burst.

Sinks : Re-caulk around your sinks and pay attention to your slow-draining pipes. For this may indicate a partially blocked drain. Check the pipes under your sink for signs of water leaks brought by water damage.

Shower/Baths : Discoloration or soft areas around your floors and walls near your showers or your bathtubs may be your first indication there is a leak caused by water damage. Check caulking at joints where your walls meet the floor or your bathtub, looking for cracks or mold. If either you have found, clean and remove loose material and apply new sealant. If your shower walls or your floor are tiled, a leak may develop if there are cracks or missing areas of grout.

Toilets : Placing inappropriate objects or too much toilet paper in your bowl can accidentally clog your toilets, especially "low-flow" toilets that are now required in homes. Your hanging bowl deodorants are frequently the culprits.