How to Deal With Water Damage in Your New Home

30 Aug How to Deal With Water Damage in Your New Home

Leaks in kitchen

When your new home has succumbed to the effects of water damage, it can be hard to see past the mess. Water damage can be very stressful, and knowing more about it places you in a better position to address it. Preventing water damage will give you much-needed peace of mind and save you plenty of time and money. A few easy prevention tips can prove useful in protecting your home from the distressing effects of water damage.

Investigate Leaks and Fix Them Right Away

Persistent leaks can lead to rot, mold and mildew and termites. Investigate leaks by checking for stains on ceilings, drips, rocking toilets and dark spots under pipes inside sink cabinets. Fixing leaks as soon as possible will reduce expensive repairs and prevent long term damage.

Ensure Good Drainage

Poor drainage causes cracks, weakens your foundation and creates pathways for water to enter your home. Ensure the free flow of water by cleaning your gutters regularly to avoid ice dams and blockages. Also, don’t forget to clean downspouts and ensure they point away from the house.

 

Monitor Your Water Bill

With so many water pipes hidden under the floor or behind walls, detecting leaks can be quite a challenge. Keep a close eye on your water bill. If things are not adding up or your bill is unnecessarily high, it could be a sign that you may have a leak somewhere.

Other preventative measures to consider include checking home appliances regularly for leaks; installing water detection devices; upgrading washing machine hoses; keeping trees in check and never pouring grease down the sink.

Fixing Your Water Damaged Drywall and Roof

Before making any repairs, you’ll need to find the source of the leak. Repairs will do you no good if you don’t deal with the leak. While it may be easy to locate a leak based on visible signs of dripping water, moisture or falling structural integrity, sometimes finding the source can be tough. Water can cause damage far from its source so you may have to carry out some investigation or exploration to locate the origin of the leak. If there’s minimal water damage, repair the source of the leak.

Minor damage and stains on drywall can easily be repaired and may not require replacement. Before attempting to fix, ensure the wallboard is still solid and secured to the studs. If it’s sagging slightly, you can use drywall screws to return it to its original position. Next, scrape off loose layers of paint and drywall mud. A sharp edged putty knife can come in handy for this job.

Wipe the surface with a solution of chlorine bleach or alcohol to kill any mold or mildew. You will then need to seal the drywall to prevent stains from bleeding through the finish paint. Several paints or primers in oil, water or alcohol base will seal water stains and are labeled for this purpose. To smooth the surface, you will need to apply multiple applications of drywall compound. The new drywall mud can then be primed and painted using high-quality paint.

 


At Neighbors Relocation Services Seattle we treat your possessions with the same care as if they were our own, we offer unparalleled reliability and razor sharp punctuality for both domestic and commercial relocation & removal services. Get your free quote now by calling us at 1-800-950-1930.



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