Effective Tips On How To Protect Your Home From Water Damage

What are the signs of water damage?

Water is powerful since it can penetrate almost all kinds of materials. It can ruin your ceilings, flooring, drywalls, and metal frames. That’s how strong it is. So now, let’s list down some common signs of water damage for you to quickly attend to them.

• Bent of deformed floors
• Paints are peeling off
• Water stains on walls and ceilings
• Walls are sagging
• Musty odor
• Dripping water from the ceiling

When you notice any of the following signs, you need to immediately do a water damage cleanup and restoration.

What are the reasons for water damage to your home?

Are you wondering where those waters are coming from? Could it be from your ceiling? Your walls? Or, from your bursting pipe? The best way to know is for you to make a quick inspection. But here are some of the possible causes of water damage:

• Thunderstorm
• Flood water going inside the house through the basement
• Leaking water pipe or a broken dishwasher
• There are cracks in the walls
• Damaged roof or shingles
• Problematic HVAC system
• The drainage system is not working

What are effective tips to prevent water damage to your home?

Prevention is better than cure. It saves you more money and time in preventing this incident from happening, rather than solving it, right? Our professionals at Royal Restoration have brainstormed and come up with the following tips for your water damage protection.

Tip 1: Check and reinforce the waterproofing coat applied to your basement

The basement is the common cause why water can go inside your house. When a thunderstorm comes, flood water can easily seep through your basement if it hasn’t been resealed properly. That said, you need to check and apply the water sealant again if necessary.

Tip 2: Ensure the drain is elevated away from your house

The elevation of your drainage must be directed away from your house. That way, even if the water level rises outside, it won’t easily reach your house perimeter.

Tip 3: Install a backwater valve on your basement 

This is a rare option to have, yet would be a smart move if viable. Try to inspect your house and ask assistance from an engineer or a plumber, if it’s possible for you to install a backwater valve.

This allows gray or flood water to go out of the house without the chance of backflow. If you include this before making your house or renovating your basement, that would be great.

Tip 4: Check your dishwasher, tub, and shower

These are the appliances or areas where water leaking could come from. That said, inspecting them every year is a must for homeowners. Below are specific things you can do to prevent water damage:

• Make sure you have an emergency valve to release extra pressure on your plumbing system. This helps avoid the bursting of your pipes.
• Inspect the water hose of your appliances and see if there are no cracks or leaks. You may also want to invest in an alarm system for monitoring water leaking.
• Check if the water sealant of your tub and shower is still fine.

If you fail to avoid water leaking, that could lead to a disaster. When that happens, finding a reliable water damage restoration service is your best hope. Royal Restoration is here 24/7 to help you resolve this concern. Our trained and bonded professionals are knowledgeable in all areas of fixing water damage and its culprit.

Tip 5: Check your house exterior and seal off cracks right away

If your house has been outdated for five to ten years, there’s a chance that some areas there have cracks. Here are the common areas you need to check:

• Windows
• Downspouts
• Roof or shingles
• Sprinkler system
• Gutter and drainage

If you notice any small cracks, you need to seal them off immediately. Otherwise, it can enlarge and the problem is worse. Your home’s exterior is prone to weather changes. The coating can peel off through time, and the waterproofing ability becomes weaker. That said, it’s best to have those areas checked every year.

Tip 6: Make sure your gutter is clean and in good condition

Leaves and debris would inevitably accumulate in your gutter. When you let that happen for a longer time, it can cause clogging and water will find its way to go out, thus, expect leaking to happen.

If your gutter is clogged up, water won’t flow to your downspouts. It can go to your roof and windows. This can lead to water damage and leaking. To avoid this incident, inspect your gutter once or twice a week. Clear that up with all leaves, twigs, and debris. Also, check if your gutter needs to be replaced or repaired.

Tip 7: Repair and seal your windows 

Calling a water damage restoration company is your last choice in dealing with water damage. Besides your gutter and downspouts, you also have to check your windows’ water sealants. Eventually, this wears out and you’d have to reseal them again.

Here are the basic steps on how to reseal your windows:

• Use silicone caulk for resealing your windows. This type lasts longer than acrylic caulks. 
• First, you need to clean your windows and the areas where you’ll reseal again. This is to ensure the sealant sticks strongly there.
• Prepare your caulking gun and silicone caulk. Apply a substantial amount to the target areas.
• Use a plastic card to evenly spread out the sealant, so you’ll have a smooth finish outcome.

Need assistance with your water restoration?

We hope our blog helped you understand how to prevent water damage to your homes. Restoration of water damage is a challenging process. You need to have the skills, equipment, and knowledge on how to repair water damage on different materials.

So, in case you require professional help there, don’t hesitate to contact Royal Restoration. We repair fire and water damage to homes and businesses. Our professionals are trained and bonded to serve you at any time of the day.

Call us at 202-933-3930 for your free estimate or consultation. For emergency services, call our office.

You can also book an appointment online here: