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Water Hiding in Your Home | SERVPRO of East Lansing/Haslett
1/2/2024 (Permalink)
Water damage can happen anywhere in your home. Call SERVPRO of East Lansing/Haslett to restore water damage on your property 24/7, 365.
Water plays a crucial role in our daily lives. Just consider how many times you run the dishwasher or hose the dog down after a walk gets particularly wild. Being able to use water on demand has its benefits, but when water gets into the wrong places, it can leave your house a complete mess.
The good news is that it only takes getting to know the most common places that water and excess moisture may be hiding in your home to prevent a total disaster. With some easy home maintenance, you can keep everything dry and free of damage.
Sinks, toilets and bathtubs are all highly prone to leaking. While this might feel obvious, it can actually be hard to find leaks. There are generally multiple water lines under a sink, and with water already so common, leaks can get pretty bad before you catch them.
Check under your sinks weekly, and watch around other bathroom fixtures for unexplained water droplets. Feel the water lines for moisture and make sure connections are tight. Replace any seals that have worn down or are showing any other signs of aging.
It would be a real drag not to have some of the appliances that make life so convenient. However, dishwashers, washing machines, water heaters and refrigerators with built-in water filters are all prone to hidden leaks. These leaks often start behind or under the appliance, which means you may not notice it until a good deal of damage is done.
Make a plan to pull out your water-based large appliances every few months in order to clean under and behind them. Look for mold growth, puddles or soft spots in the floor. Feel any of the water lines you can reach, and make sure everything is in good shape and well connected.
One of the things that makes water leaks particularly dangerous is how quickly water can move. Even when the leak was small and you were able to catch it relatively fast, water may have gotten into any nooks or crannies around the source of the leak. This often results in water damage behind your walls or under the floor.
A musty odor is generally the first indicator of this. Always pay close attention to any strange smells near water-based appliances. A new squeak in the floor or spot that feels soft close to appliances is another sign that something has happened.
When the temperature swings between warm and cold, it can create condensation on your windows. This is pretty common in most homes, which makes it easy to ignore.
Condensation can trickle down into cracks or between your shingles, causing damage to the structure of your home.
Run your hands around the window and door frames to feel for moisture. Take a look at the seal, and check for signs of wear and tear. Seals wear out quickly, so the change of the seasons is a great time to refresh any caulking in order to keep your home well insulated.
While you are inspecting your home, don’t let any water damage you happen to discover cause you to panic. SERVPRO® is just a phone call away, and we are ready to get a team out to your property around the clock.
We can handle an entirely flooded basement or damage left behind after a hole in a pipe. We make it our goal to get your restoration completed fast.
Don’t ignore signs of water damage! Call SERVPRO for a quick restoration.