Common Sources Of Water Damage Cleanup

In your Westchester home, there are numerous water sources and each one has the potential to result in water damage cleanup. Knowing the most common sources of water damage will help you take the proper preventative measures to help prevent water damage from occurring in the first place and help you respond quickly when water damage does occur. 

Water Damage Cleanup Westchester NY

The following are common issues that our experts at New Crystal Restoration have experienced throughout their restoration projects.

Problems With Plumbing

Since the majority of the plumbing in your home is concealed behind walls, beneath floors, etc., it can be challenging to identify water damage from plumbing issues before they become serious problems. Since a leak behind the wall, for example, is not very obvious, some things you can look for that indicate there could be a plumbing problem. These usually appear as unusually high water bills, musty odors, pooling water or puddles in normally dry places or around pipes under cabinets, mold growth, or wet spots and water stains. Other common plumbing problems are clogged drains and toilets. When the flow of water is obstructed, it causes the water to back up or overflow into your home. Slow drainage from sinks, tubs, or showers are early indicators that a clog is forming, so be sure to address it before it leaves you needing water damage cleanup. 

Leaky Or Broken Pipes

While we are talking about plumbing, let us focus on a common problem with pipes – leaks or bursts. The pressure inside pipes increases as a result of backed-up drains, clogged pipes, frozen pipes, or water pressure that is too high. To relieve the increased pressure, pipes will eventually break, burst, or leak, spilling water out into your home. Old pipes are also more prone to leaking and weakened pipe connections are a common place for water to escape. A few things you can do to help prevent pipes from leaking are: 

1. 1. install a water pressure monitor to an outside tap of your home and ensure that the pressure does not exceed 80 psi
   2. Clean drains regularly to prevent clogs from forming
   3. When temperatures drop below freezing, turn the faucets on to a slow trickle to prevent water from freezing in the pipe, or consider adding insulation to pipes that run along exterior walls or in areas of your home that are cooler like basements and garages

Malfunctioning Appliances

Appliances that use water, like washing machines, dishwashers, and water heater tanks, can have gallons and gallons of water in them or run through them when in use. This makes them common sources of water damage, especially when something malfunctions. Each of these appliances requires hoses that provide water to them, and these hoses can degrade over time, connections can become loosened, and they can even become twisted or kinked, obstructing the flow of water. Water leaks often happen around these areas, and they can be totally avoidable if hoses are inspected regularly. You should also consider changing out water supply hoses every 5-7 years to prevent failure. It is also important to use appliances as directed by the manufacturer to prevent any major malfunction. Do not overfill tanks, use the correct detergent, and be sure to regularly clean them out and perform recommended maintenance on them. 

All the sources of water in your home may leave you feeling overwhelmed by the risk of water damage, but don’t worry, New Crystal Restoration is here to help. We specialize in water damage cleanup from any and every source and will be there to help when you need us most.