Water is a life saviour and quite harmless or so it seems. But water can wreck havoc and cause extensive water damage. Even small things such as a clogged drain or a trap left open or the leaking washing machine has all the potential for water damage. The best way to avoid the water damage is to look for signs and prevention. Before the water damage disaster actually happens, it leaves enough signs. Know the signs so that you can effectively counter and protect yourself from the water damage.

Water damage may even happen to the structure

If you see standing water in the house somewhere, that's a sure sign of something wrong and water damage may already have been done. On the other hand, when there are water stains inn places that they shouldn't be in; you know that you can protect your home from water damage. If there are water stains that are forming on the outside walls or near the windows and the doors, it's a sure sign that water from outside is seeping in and causing water damage to the structure of the house.

Looking at water stains in the attic

If you see water stains at the joints where the ceiling and an exterior wall are joined, then it's a sign that your roof might be leaking or it can be an ice dam problem. Ice dams are usually common problems for homeowners in the colder climates when the snow accumulates on the slanted roof. This happens if there is inadequate insulation or the attic ventilation is extremely poor. It can lead to extensive water damage and can lead to rotting timber, peeling of the paint, cracks in the plaster and so on.

If you have water lines running in the attic, then it may be ok, else it can mean that water damage has begun in the structure. It's not necessary that the water stain should be the exact spot where water damage has been done. In fact water can travel through the structure and the stains may appear at other places too.

When there is water stain under the sink or in the adjoining cabinets of the sink, this can mean that water damage has been done due to a leaking sink. Check the sink to see what's wrong, before extensive water damage is done. If the floor of the home is made from wood and there is buckling of the wood, it can mean that there has water damage due to the seepage of water. Sometimes it can become quite hard to detect it especially if the floor has been covered with carpets.

Water damage incidence is high in bathrooms and kitchens

Kitchens and bathrooms are the highest risk areas where water damage can happen. Check continuously for water damage around the dishwasher area and the refrigerator area (especially if you have an ice maker). These appliances have a water supply line as well as a drain pipe. In bathrooms, check for the sinks and the bathtubs as well as traps in the shower area for possible water damage.