Water damage due to basement flooding can be avoided by taking a few simple prevention measures. Many a times the insurance company will pay for the water damage in the basements but may not pay for the root cause of the water damage such as the leaking washing machines or pipes. Basements are always prone to water damage as they are below the ground. Normally the basement gets flooded as there's a build-up of water in the ground soil.
Even a small amount of water damage can mean hundreds and thousands of dollars worth of damage. If there is a leak, the water damage can cause mold to grow wrecking the entire basement. If your basement doesn't have water damage, then take a few precautions to ensure that it remains free from the water damage.
Waterproofing the walls for water damage
The first thing to do to prevent water damage is to waterproof the walls of the basement. Using the directions given by the manufacturers, never skimp on the directions or the coat, since this can save you from the water damage later. Use the water proof coating that has been especially made to withstand the water damage due to hydrostatic pressure.
Another way to prevent the water damage is to fix the leaks, ensure that there is proper drainage and install a sump pump. Remember the water damage in the basement need not come from the basement itself but can come from the bathrooms and the kitchen as well.
Checking the gutter system
The gutter system should also be looked at to prevent the water damage to your home. Ideally the gutter system should slope away from the foundation and the basement of the house to prevent the water damage that it can cause. Unfortunately, if that's not the case, then you should look at grading the soil. If the rainwater doesn't drain out properly but is instead building up in the soil around the basement, then there can be potential water damage issues.
Using sump pumps for preventing water damage
Sump pumps were ideally used after the flooding had occurred to take out the water. But they can be used as a prevention tool for water damage. The sump pump can be used to remove the water from even the lowest levels of the basement. The sump hole will collect the water and when the water level reaches the critical limit, the sump pump will automatically pump out the water before any water damage is done. There are a number of sump pumps available for the consumers. Some can work underwater while other shouldn't get wet. Many of them have parts made from plastic as well as cast iron.
It's important to choose the sump pump that would meet your requirements for preventing water damage. Many of them will also have a check valve. The check valve prevents the water from going back; else the sump pump would create water damage instead of preventing it. To prevent water damage, it's important to check the sump pump at regular intervals.
Maintain toilets: The toilet, with your aid, consumes a monstrous 40% of household water use. If you haven't installed one of those water-conserving toilets yet, you could be flushing down six gallons of water each time you use the toilet, or your toilet could potentially leak six gallons and more if it is damaged.
Make sure the toilet tank doesn't have any cracks. Replace a cracked tank even if it hasn't fallen apart yet. Water slowly seeps through the cracks and contributes to the humidity in the air aiding water damage.
The toilet's tank is fed water through a water pipe. Don't be lenient and allow dripping to occur no matter how slight. Inside, a rubber flapper regulates water flow during the flushing process. The rubber flapper in the tank should be replaced every two to three years especially when your hand turns black when you touch it.
The base of the toilet is sealed to the toilet floor using a special waterproof sealant. If the sealant doesn't work anymore, dirty toilet water will leak from the base of the toilet and onto your floor-- or worse, onto your ceiling.
Keep showers and faucets free from drips: Fix any faucets and showers that do not close tight. Dripping can yield gallons of water which will evaporate in the bathroom making it a dank area perfect for the growth of household molds. Dealing with drippy water sources as soon as possible will also save you a lot of money.
Repair leaky plumbing: Because plumbing pipes are behind the wall and hidden from view, leaks can be hard to detect. However, if there is a leak within the wall, the wall will become stained and moist to the touch. You might also hear leaking or water movement. If this happens, go to a professional immediately. If untreated, a leak within your wall can cause extensive water damage to your home.
Dry the bathroom floor: To prevent bathroom floor damage, always dry your bathroom floors. Repair tile grouting if you see it weathering off. As long as there are no leaks from the toilet, sink, bathtub, or plumbing, your bathroom floor should be fine.
If the floor in your bathroom is caving in or feels soft, this could indicate a serious problem. It means that the structure holding your floor up has sustained damage causing it to weaken and cave in. Have it examined straight away.
Drain the bathtub: Make sure your bathtub drainage is not leaking. The mouth of the drain should be sealed at the edges. If the drain opening is coming off, replace it with a new one as soon as you can. This will prevent water from escaping from the drain and seeping to the floor.
After taking a bath, drain your bathtub immediately. The longer you keep water in the tub, the more likely it is to leak if your drain is faulty. Also, it keeps the bathroom moist; something you should avoid to prevent water damage.
Use an exhaust fan: When taking a shower or bath, turn on the exhaust fan if present. Install your exhaust fan so it blows air outside of the house, not into some other part of your home. The exhaust fan helps keep the bathroom ventilated and dry ; an added protection against water damage.
Both Gayelord Nash & Isolde Werry are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Gayelord Nash has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home, Health and Online Business. Gayelord Nash shares info on flooding and fire for and. Gayelord Nash's top article generates over 60500 views. to your Favourites.
Isolde Werry has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home, Carpet Cleaning and Upholstery and Pets. Isolde Werry shares info on flooding and fire for and. Isolde Werry's top article generates over 22200 views. to your Favourites.