How Water Can Wreak Havoc on Older Homes

Water is one of the most destructive forces that can affect an older home. Just a small amount of water can cause extensive damage and even lead to the collapse of the structure. If you have an old home that you're fond of, here are some water trouble spots to watch out for.

Roofing

There are several ways that water can enter a home and cause damage. One is through leaks in the roof or walls. If these are not fixed promptly, the water can saturate the insulation and cause mold to grow. It can also cause the wood to rot, which weakens the structure of the home.

Gutters and Downspouts

Another way water can enter a home is through gutters and downspouts. If these are not properly maintained, they can become clogged and cause water to back up and enter the home. This can lead to leaks in the roof or walls, as well as foundation problems.

Pests and Dry Rot

Another problem that can be caused by water is pests. Termites, carpenter ants, and other pests are attracted to damp wood. If they're not stopped, they can cause extensive damage to the structure of the home. 

Dry rot is another problem that can be caused by water. This is a type of fungi that attacks wood, and it can cause the wood to become weak and crumble.

Foundation

The foundation of a home is its most important component. Without a strong foundation, the rest of the house can collapse. Unfortunately, water can wreak havoc on foundations, causing them to crack and settle. If you have an older home, it's important to have the foundation inspected regularly to make sure it's in good condition.

Mold

Mold is a type of fungi that can grow in damp conditions. If mold is allowed to grow unchecked, it can cause serious health problems, as well as damage to the structure of the home. In serious cases, or with certain types of mold, it can render a home uninhabitable.

Foundation

The foundation of a home is its most important component. Without a strong foundation, the rest of the house can collapse. Unfortunately, water can wreak havoc on foundations, causing them to crack and settle. If you have an older home, it's important to have the foundation inspected regularly to make sure it's in good condition.

Act Quickly

If you have an older home, it's important to be aware of the potential problems that water can cause and act fast when you suspect there is a problem. 

Your insurance coverage may be voided if you don't take prompt action to mitigate the damage. If you have any questions, contact your local water damage restoration specialist. They will be able to assess the situation and recommend the best course of action. 

Quick restoration can help make sure that your property remains intact while also preventing water damage to worsen as time passes.

These are just a few of the ways that water can damage an older home. If you're not careful, it can quickly turn your place of solitude into a nightmare. By implementing regular inspections and proactive measures, you'll be enjoying your old home for years to come.

How to Be Aware of Potential Water Damage to Your Home or Business

Water pipes may get damaged due to various reasons such as being too old, rusting, and other reasons that result in leakages. 

You need to identify the water damage early enough and take necessary restoration services to prevent health complications, damage to your property, and other undesirable consequences. 

This is the reason why you need to evaluate your home or business for potential water damage signs.

Water Stains On the Walls and Ceilings

Since most water pipes are fitted inside walls and on the ceiling, these surfaces may have signs of water leakage or damage. If you notice some discoloration or stains on your home or business walls, this could be a sign that there is a leakage of water. 

You should conduct regular checkups on the walls and ceilings to identify potential water leakage in your building and then contact experts such as Water Emergency Services Inc to assist you in undertaking necessary repairs.

Dampness

If you notice some wet areas and dampness on surfaces around your home or business, there is likely a problem with the water pipes. 

Damp surfaces are likely to result from stagnant water on those surfaces caused by broken water pipes, which should alert you of potential water leakage.

Presence of Mold

Mold is usually present in areas that have lots of water and oxygen. If you observe mold growing on surfaces that are not usually exposed to humidity and water, this may be a sign of water damage in your home or business. 

Once you observe mold, you should seek assistance from a mold removal service and water emergency service. It's important to take care of the problem in a timely fashion because mold can cause many health problems.

An Onset of Health Complications

Mold can cause respiratory problems, such as asthma and allergies. If you notice that your structure is showing signs of these infections, it could be a result of mold in your premises, which is mostly caused by water leakage. 

When you notice any mold in your premises, you should immediately call water emergency services, so they can send experts who will monitor the water system and make any needed repairs to keep you and your environment safe.

While it may seem like a minor issue, water damage or leakage has severe consequences for you, your environment, pets, and your property. Water emergency companies provide water damage restoration services to help you in case any harm comes to your home or business.

Protect Your Home from Flooding

Although most of us worry about fires and earthquakes when it comes to homeowner’s insurance, the truth is that most home repair expenses are incurred from flooding. 

Whether you’re in the deserts of the southwest, or at risk of hurricane season on the eastern seaboard, you need to take some precautions to guard your home from flooding.

This year, especially, people throughout the country are finding themselves worried about rainstorm flooding, especially in areas like California where record-breaking rainfall has caused problems in residences and community infrastructure alike. 

Drains and gutters

This is one of the things you can do for your home that will have the biggest impact on protecting your home from water damage. Ensure that your gutters are clear and free of debris, to prevent buildup. 

If you have a buildup of garbage and dead leaves in your gutters, water is more likely to pool up because it doesn’t have anywhere to drain to. You should also consider installing one way valves into your drainage pipes, to prevent backup in your sewage and water coming into the house. 

Keep water from getting in where it doesn’t belong

Flooding happens when you can’t prevent the water from entering your home in the first place. If you don’t have anything in place to block water from coming in when there’s an exceptional amount of rainfall, then you’ll have to play offense to get the water out. 

A common place for water to leak into your home is through your garage. This article has some great tips for preventing leaks into your garage. Of course, the garage door is not the only place that tends to collect leaks and flooding. 




Apply weatherstripping and door jambs throughout your house in order to prevent leaking. Build awnings and check the roof. Check the rain gutters and install trenches in order to lead excess water away. 

Don’t introduce unnecessary water

When most people think of their home flooding, they assume it will be from natural causes outside of their control. But most homes that experience minor or small floods actually happen because of water from inside the home. 

This can be from not operating your washing machine or dishwasher correctly, causing excess water to leak out. Or it could be from not having your sprinkler system installed correctly. We’ve all seen someone’s sprinklers set up incorrectly and essentially watering their driveway instead of their lawn. 

This is exactly what you don’t want. When you set up your sprinkler system for the first time, you’ll want to make sure that you watch it run once to ensure that not only that it’s watering the correct areas of your yard, but that it also doesn’t run longer than necessary. 

Weatherproof the exterior

Even if water doesn’t make its way into the inside of your home, water could still damage the outside of your home. 

To help keep the exterior of your home looking great no matter the weather, one great tip is to make sure you have a good quality exterior coat of paint on your home. 

When you let your paint wear off and get faded, you’re giving water a chance to permeate that paint and cause further damage.

Your paint isn’t the only thing that needs to be protected from water damage, though. Make sure that your fence and all outside decorations are properly weathered to prevent water damage.

Probably the most important part of the exterior of your home to weatherproof? Your roof. Getting a leaky roof is not only annoying, but it can cause damage to the entire interior of your home. 

Depending on the roofing material used when your house was built, it will need to be replaced every 20 to 50 years. When you approach within five years of that, you’ll want to have someone come and inspect your roof and make any necessary repairs to maintain the durability of your roof. 

Be Aware of Groundwater Risks

No matter you are, there is risk of groundwater flooding whenever there are excessive amounts of rainfall. 

Groundwater flooding can be confusing because it seems to come out of nowhere. Sometimes it’s influenced by storms that are happening farther away. 

You can look up information about groundwater flooding risk on your local city planner’s website or office. This article contains more about groundwater flooding, how to prevent it and watch for it. 

5 Most Common Insurance Claims

Want to know the most important insurance claims? If yes, then read the following article, as it is going to ease you in the best possible way. After all, by reading the following article, you are going to know the most common claims. Thereby, you are able to know the importance of certain claims. Thus they are going to ease us like never before as well. 

Following is the list of the 5 most common insurance claims 

Pet Insurance

This is the insurance which gets lots of claim and it has been further authenticated by the recent study as well. Out of ten people who have the pet insurance policy, four made a claim. The reason for their claim stands out to be the illness of the pet, accident or injury.

Wedding Insurance

Increasing numbers of wedding insurance claims occur due to lost deposits. It usually occurs if the hotel closes down or the catering fails to show up or the photographers are nowhere in the party. Hence, each and every single thing is covered under the policy.

Home Insurance

It is also on the list owing to its importance and utility. It usually occurs due to the water damage, fire or theft. While the claim for water damage is the highest since it covers whopping 69% of claims, due to faulty plumbing activity which results in accumulation of water or creating other unforeseen problems. 

Auto Insurance

Although, there are various reasons which are responsible for the claim against the auto insurance, yet the most important and common one stands out to be fender benders. There are minor accidents which occur near the parking lots or at the stoop signs. Although, the damage is indeed quite minimal, but the best thing is that you are able to know about the detailed policy and whether they are able to impart to what has been promised before or not. 

Cell Phones

If you thought, you cannot protect your phone with a specific policy, better think again. There is a policy for that. The need for the same arose mainly due to the fact that with the advancement of technology, there has been a boom of gadgets. The market has seen various expensive cell phones. Therefore, it equally necessitates the importance of insurance. There has been a high claim rate against the damage. Interesting news also did the rounds where the claim for ownership was made just within the initial four months of possessing the cell phone.

Finally, aforesaid are the 5 Most Common Insurance Claims. It is imperative for you to be on your toes towards gearing up for any sort of eventuality. After all, it is advisable to be prepared for the worst, than to repent later on forever. The article is indeed going to ease you in preparing for some of the unforeseen situations, as now you will have complete knowledge as well. Since, you never know that you might have to make a claim yourself as well. Isn’t it?