Keeping Your Lansdale, PA Home Safe From Water Damage

Many new home buyers underestimate the costs of ownership. They see the price of the home and likely understand mortgage payments, insurance premiums, and utility costs. Unfortunately, until you move into a home for the first time, many of the hidden costs that come with it are hard to predict. 

Maintenance and repairs are extra costs that can be hard to predict, especially if the cause of the issue is water damage. Water damage is one of the most common issues that homeowners in Lansdale, PA, deal with. It is often hard to see coming, and the resulting costs can be very expensive.

Protecting your home from water damage is crucial to prevent your bank account from being drained away. Water damage can be costly, so the best way to cover these expenses is to take steps to avoid them in the first place. Here are some ways homeowners can keep their properties in Pennsylvania safe from water damage. 

Insulate Exposed Pipes

One common cause of water damage in the Northeast is frozen pipes. When water freezes, it expands, which can put the pipes that contain it at risk of cracking or bursting open. Winter can be a dangerous time for homeowners as a result of this process.

Keeping your pipes insulated is the simplest and cheapest way to prevent this freezing process from occurring in the first place. Some of your pipes are likely exposed in the basement or crawlspaces, which are often some of the least heated areas in the home. Insulate any exposed pipes that you have so the Lansdale winters do not cause significant water damage in your home. 

Care for the Ground Near the Foundation

There are some landscaping strategies that can help prevent water damage in your home too. The foundation is an important structural element of the home, providing the base of the building. If it becomes compromised because of prolonged exposure to water, or your basement floods, it can lead to very expensive repairs.

There are two primary methods for protecting the ground around your foundation which will help reduce the chances of water damage. First, you can grade the soil away from the house for better drainage. Second, you can plant shrubs and other things with extensive root systems to help soak up groundwater near the foundation.

Update Old Siding

Siding is one of your best defenses against water damage. Aging materials could have worn down over time, resulting in gaps that let rainwater or snow into the home. The longer you leave this problem unaddressed, the more likely you are to face hefty repair bills from water damage.

If you have outdated siding materials, or the last replacement was a long time ago, it may be time for an upgrade. Maybe some stucco remediation could replace that porous siding material with a better substance like metal or fiber cement. Then, your home will be able to repel water more effectively and insulate the home for more comfortable temperatures. 

Clear Drains Regularly

Poor drainage is another common cause of water damage. Showers, faucets, water appliances, and even gutters must have a path to direct water out of and away from the home to prevent moisture buildup. If any of these drainage systems are clogged, they can cause backflow that floods the home. If the flooding is undiscovered for a time, a lot of long-term damage can occur, resulting in expensive restoration costs.

Consistently clearing out your drains is an easy practice to adopt and can save you a lot of money. Invest in some drain snakes or other tools that can help you remove those clogs that build up over time. If you notice a drain working slower than normal, this is a telltale sign that it needs some Drain-O or a snake. Clearing your gutters of leaves and other debris each season is also wise. 

Re-Caulk Worn Sealant

Around the home, you have many windows and doors. When they were installed, some type of sealant was used to cover up the gaps between materials. Without this substance, gaps would be all over your house that could let in rainwater or melting snow. Plus, your HVAC systems would have to work harder to maintain comfortable temperatures in summer and winter. Re-caulking these gaps when you notice sealant is wearing away or pulling away from the materials is a simple step that will ensure water cannot slip through near your windows and doors. 

Learn the Signs of Water Damage to Protect Your Lansdale Investment

A home is an expensive item, so the last thing you want is to spend more money on it than is necessary. Careless owners may leave their homes exposed to water damage, which is usually a significant expense. When you know the signs of water damage to look for, you can respond quickly to stop the source and fix what has been harmed before things escalate.

Peeling paint, bowing ceilings, water stains, water bill spikes, mold, musty smells, and warped structural elements could all indicate a moisture problem. Know these signs and take the steps mentioned throughout the article to keep your Lansdale, PA home safe from water damage.