Top 10 most Popular Places to Find Water Damage in the Home

7/31/2018 (Permalink)

A homeowner never forgets that awful moment when they realize that their home has been affected by water damage.  Whether it's caused by a broken pipe, a slab leak or flooding, finding water damage in your home is never fun.  While not all types of water damage is avoidable, knowing the most popular places where water damage occurs can be helpful in detecting and preventing further water damage to your home.  SERVPRO of Texarkana has compiled a list of the top 10 most popular places to find water damage in your home.

1. Have you checked your roof? A homeowner's roof is the shield against all outdoor threats, like rain or snow.  When that shield is damaged, it opens the entire house up to being affected by water damage.  Be sure that your roof received the property maintenance it needs so you can prevent water damage from entering your home.
2. Do you have any leaking pipes? A pipe leak is one of the most common ways a house can be affected by water damage.  That's why it's so important to regularly check your pipes to make sure that there are no leaks or ruptured pipes.
3. Is your washing machine malfunctioning? When it's working correctly, a washing machine is a great thing.  But when a hose breaks during a wash cycle, this allows for a major amount of water to enter your laundry room area, causing a potential for water damage.  Just to be safe, it's helpful to pull the washing machine out a bit and check to make sure everything is undamaged, secure and intact.
4. Are your windows not shutting properly? Windows can add lots of natural light as well as bring charm or character to a home.  But when windows are not sealed properly, there is room for lots of damage to be done.  Make a habit in checking to see if your windows are closing properly.  To check, place your hands over where the window closes.  If the window is shut entirely and you can still feel a draft, it is important to have it fixed as soon as possible.  The last thing you want is water or moisture coming into your house because of a faulty window.
5. Is the caulking in your shower starting to down? As a shower ages, its caulking starts to deteriorate, which can lead to the caulking being brittle, eventually causing a leak.  If this starts to happen, you are at a greater risk of water damage affecting your bathroom area.  In order to avoid this from happening, take a look at the seal in your shower and inspect for weak points where damage could possibly occur.  If you find any areas that are weak, be proactive and fix the area.  On top of that, be sure to check around the outside of the shower, as that can be a good indicator of a leak.
6. Do you have a flood in your basement? A basement flood can happen for many reasons.  There might have been a sewage backup, or even a simple pipe bursting in your home; these are all ways a homeowner's basement could possibly flood.  Unfortunately, all of these situations are not really preventable, so the best thing you can do is be on top of handling the water damage.  If not handled quickly, that flood can turn into extensive water damage.  If your basement has been affected by a flood, install a sump pump.  While it cannot completely rid your home of the damage, it can help reduce the water damage.  Then be sure to call SERVPRO of Texarkana so we can take the proper measurements in completely removing the water damage from your basement.
7. Is the area around your toilet wet? A toilet leak is one of the harder water leaks to find, due to how close it sits next to the shower.  Many mistake a toilet leak for water dripping after taking a shower.  Because of this, it's hard to distinguish a toilet leak from dripping water from taking a shower.  To minimize potential water damage to your bathroom, be sure to inspect the toilet area on a regular basis.  There are many reasons as to where a toilet leak can stem from.  It can come from an overflowing toilet, a lose hose in the toilet's system, cracks in the bowl of the toilet, or even old caulking.  No matter where the toilet leak originates from, it can be agreed that it is never fun having to deal with a leaking toilet's consequences, so be sure to check these places frequently and seek assistance if you notice any extra water.
8. Have you checked underneath the kitchen sink? Whether there is a leak in your sink pipes or not, the area beneath your kitchen sink provides the perfect location for water damage and mold to grow.  Think about that environment: it's warm, humid and a lot of air passes through that area.  These are all elements that would welcome mold and water damage as a guest.  If on top of that you have a pipe leak or a loose washer, the likelihood of water damages forming in that area is that much greater.  While it's not always avoidable, try not to overcrowd the cabinet and look under the items placed in the cabinet for any possible water damage.  Doing this can't always stop the formation of water damage, but it can definitely help locate the damage a lot sooner.
9. Is your refrigerator working correctly? If your refrigerator or freezer is leaking, you may have a broken hose or a malfunctioning ice cube maker.  A leak like that typically results in a pool of water underneath your refrigerator, which can cause water damage to your kitchen.  Check below the refrigerator every once and a while to be sure that your refrigerator is not leaking.  If your refrigerator is old and tends to malfunction, it is important to check it even more often.
10. Have you looked at the base molding in your bathroom? Taking a shower or bath can be a time for relaxation.  The steamy, warm water can feel great, especially after a busy and hectic day.  But it's important to make sure you are ventilating the room with an open window or fan, as the moisture of the shower or bath can cause water damage to your bathroom.  While the base molding might seem like an odd place to check for water damage in a bathroom, the moisture from taking a bath or shower can evaporate into the paneling and cause damage behind it, resulting in water damage to the base molding.  Check the base molding for loose areas in the panel, mold and discoloration, as these are all sign of water damage.

We at SERVPRO of Texarkana know that sometimes, water damage is unavoidable.  But we are confident that by checking these places listed above more frequently will help homeowners detect signs of water damage sooner, hopefully resulting in less damage to your home.  If you find any water damage in your home, contact SERVPRO of Texarkana today!  We're happy to help with any and all of your water damage restoration needs! 903-832-4400.