You Can Protect Your Home From Water Damage | SERVPRO® of Piscataway

Water damage can result from storm damage, malfunctioning appliances or burst pipes, and can be one of the most common and costliest disasters your home may experience. There are countless ways water damage could strike your home.

While water damage is common, there are ways to protect your home from some of these “wet” situations.

How to Do It

Not only is dealing with the water damage a hassle, but it can also impact your home farther down the road if not dealt with properly at the onset. Mold is a difficult, common side effect of water damage, as mold begins to grow and within 24–48 hours of exposure to moisture.

When looking at ways to protect your home, try breaking it down by areas of impact. For example, basements, kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, ceilings and so on.

Preventing water seepage in the basement is a good place to start. This can be done by resealing vulnerable areas of the basement, making sure water drains away from your home and installing a backwater valve.

The major culprits for water damage in your kitchen and bathrooms will usually be a result of plumbing system issues and appliance failures. Check the following areas regularly:

  • Inspect all appliances, watching for issues with hoses and faucets
  • Check seals and caulking around bathtubs and showers, making sure there are is no leakage
  • Always be aware of where the main shut-off valve is in your home
  • Try not to use the washing machine or dishwasher when you will not be home for the entire cycle

When it comes to protecting the possessions in your home from water damage, it may not always be possible, but there are things you can do to at least decrease the amount of damage and loss. Try using waterproof bins to store items in and also keeping items stored up off the floor on shelves—which is especially recommended when using your basement for storage.

What to Do if Water Damage Occurs

Should you have to deal with water damage in your home, you may stand a good chance at salvaging items if you can get them dried out within 48 hours.

You’ll need to contact your insurance provider immediately, evaluate the extent of the water damage in your home and identify the type of water that is involved.

There are three types of water involved with water damage:

  1. Water from rain, condensation, leaky pipes or “clean” water

  2. Slightly dirty water from dishwashers, washing machines, clean toilets or “gray” water

  3. Water from sewage or serious flooding from nearby rivers or “black” water. This water can cause serious health problems.

Remove as many wet objects as possible following a water damage disaster. You will need to get your home dried out, and dehumidified, and you’ll want to disinfect any remaining materials.

Here’s a handy hint: By freezing wet books, photos and papers in a frost-free freezer, you buy some extra time at salvaging them. This will prevent mold and mildew from developing and causing more deterioration. Once you have the time, remove them from the freezer and air-dry or fan-dry the pages.

It may seem like recovering from water damage is an overwhelming and slightly impossible task, but it doesn’t have to be. You can call on the highly trained experts at SERVPRO® of Piscataway, who are here to make it like it never even happened!