From flash floods and storm damage to snow and ice dams in the winter, water damage can take many forms in Sun Valley, Idaho. While you can’t predict how your home will be impacted by severe weather and disaster events, proactive steps can go a long way in protecting your home from damage.
The following nine steps may seem simple, but adding them to your home protection plan can prevent costly and dangerous water damage down the road.
9 Ways to Prevent Water Damage at Home
1. Conduct Visual Inspections
As a first step, we recommend inspecting the areas of your Sun Valley home where you might find water damage. Examine doors and windows, ensuring your seals are intact to keep out rain, snow, or pipe-freezing winds. Inspect appliances, like your refrigerator, dishwasher, HVAC system, washing machine, and water heater, for leaks. Check supply lines for any cracks, especially if you have plastic supply lines.
2. Clear Your Gutters and Downspouts
Unobstructed gutters are key to preventing rainwater overflow. Check your gutters for leaves, sticks, and other debris; this is especially important in the fall and after a storm. Additionally, ensure that your downspouts discharge water at least 10 feet from your home. You may need to make adjustments if you notice water is pooling near the house.
3. Grade Your Landscape for Proper Drainage
Grading your landscape refers to the shaping of land to direct the flow of water away from your house. A graded landscape is less likely to guide water toward the home and lead to leaks.
4. Check Your Roof
Even a small amount of roof damage, such as small cracks in one area or a missing shingle, is enough for water to seep through and cause damage or decay to inner structures. Regular roof inspections once or twice per year can help identify damage and weakened roof conditions.
5. Maintain Sufficient Ventilation
In moisture-prone areas of the home, make sure to ventilate using fans and by opening windows. Mold, a consequence of water damage, is often found in bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms due to a lack of ventilation.
6. Install a Water Leak Detection System
Along with visual inspections, a leak detection system can pinpoint where you’re most likely to experience leaks in your home, allowing you to prevent water damage and address vulnerabilities. These systems rely on smart-technology sensors to detect moisture in places that should be dry or recognize irregular pipe flows.
7. Test Your Sump Pump
Another device worth having, a sump pump prevents groundwater levels from getting too high, thus avoiding basement or crawlspace flooding. Regularly test your sump pump by pouring water into the system and verifying that it pumps the water back out. If you notice problems, contact your plumber.
8. Shut Off the Water Before Vacation
Have a trip coming up? If the house is going to be empty for a few days, shut off your main water valve until someone returns. Turning off the water reduces your risk of water damage while you’re away.
To confirm your water is definitely off, you can turn on a faucet while shutting the main water valve and ensure it stops running. If you aren’t sure how to do this, contact a professional for assistance.
9. Monitor Your Water Bill
Finally, spikes on your water bill can reveal hidden leaks in your home. Be sure to review your bill each month and, if you notice it’s higher than usual, investigate the cause. It could be as simple as a slow-leaking faucet.
For Water Damage Restoration, Valley Restoration Can Help
While preventive measures are important, water damage can still occur, regardless of how much preparation you have made. If a water emergency strikes your Sun Valley home, Valley Restoration is here to lead the restoration process.
Since 1968, our team has helped families and business owners throughout Wood River Valley and Magic Valley, Idaho recover from property damage. For water damage, we rely on industry-standard water extraction tools and moisture-detection equipment to remove water and completely dry the area. We’ll repair any damaged surfaces and structures, remove irreparable items, and restore your home to its original condition or better.
For 24/7 disaster recovery service in Sun Valley, contact Valley Restoration today!