Water Damage Can Lead To Trouble

If you have water damage in your home, it can lead to big trouble. Not only can the moisture stain and ruin furnishings, ceilings, walls and floors, it can turn to mold. When moisture is discovered inside your house, you must try to discover the reasons. Is there a leaky roof or a broken sump pump? Whatever it is, it must be fixed or the problem will repeat itself. It would be wise to go up on the roof and into the basement to check for leaks. In modern homes, construction is often so tight that moisture becomes trapped inside. This is especially true in very humid climates. Here are some things to try if you have too much moistness in your home:

- Open windows: Keeping windows open will allow cross breezes to pass through and to allow a house to dry up after water damage. If basements have windows, they should be opened on a regular basis because this is an area prone to mildew.

- Laundry facilities in the basement: If your basement has a washer and dryer, make sure the vents are open to the outside in order to get rid of the moisture. Always make sure that the water in the washing machine drains properly or the standing H2O could cause trouble.

- Sump pumps: Make sure sump pumps are working by having them serviced each year and testing them after extensive dry spells.

- Air to heat exchange: Every house should have an air to heat exchange system to get rid of stale, moist air. This is especially true in newer houses since they’re so air tight.

- Attic vents: If you have an attic in your dwelling, make sure it’s properly vented and that the vents are working adequately.

- Make sure ventilation system doesn’t get covered up. In snowy weather venting may become covered up with snow and ice. This can cause all kinds of problems. These devices should be installed so that they poke above the ice level.

- Replace solid doors: In areas such as the basement where moisture is a problem, it might be wise to replace the solid doors with louvered or slatted ones. This will allow the basement to have constant access to dryer parts of the home.

- Don’t use humidifier: If you have a humidifier and excess moistness is building up, stop using the appliance. When black speckled areas begin to show up on walls and other structures, this means mold and mildew are underway and it’s time to take action.

- Fans in bathrooms and kitchen. All kitchens and bathrooms should have fans to suck the wetness out of the atmosphere. Make sure yours are working well and that they’re turned on at the appropriate times such as during showers or cooking.

Water damage can create structural difficulties and lead to health concerns. Make sure your roof is always in tiptop shape, your sump pump is working, all ventilation systems are exposed and functional. An ounce of preventative maintenance will be worth a pound of cure.