When talking about water damage in residential properties, the first things that often come to mind are heavy rainfall, storms, and floods. While these natural disasters can indeed cause water to enter and wreak havoc inside your home, they’re not the only causes of water damage.
In reality, you’re far more likely to deal with a wet mess inside your home due to appliance leaks than natural disasters. Even the slightest issues with your refrigerator, water heater, dishwasher, or air conditioner could cause leaks that lead to structural issues and microbial growth.
With all of that said, the bright side is that there are steps you can take to protect yourself from appliance water leak damage. Here are some practical tips to help you keep rogue water from damaging your home.
Follow the Manufacturer’s Instructions
Maintaining your appliances is key to keeping them working correctly – and ensuring they don’t release water where they shouldn’t. On that note, it helps to remember that every device is different and requires unique maintenance procedures and schedules to stay in good working order.
Your best bet is to follow the instructions in your user’s manual and arrange regular inspections as recommended. It’s also a good idea to watch out for puddles of water or signs of water damage in walls around your appliances in between inspections. Doing so helps you detect issues early so you can stay ahead of extensive and extensive damage.
Use Sturdier Tubing
Washing machines, dishwashers, and similar appliances often come with flexible plastic water supply tubing. While this material can resist rusting and freezing, it can easily crack, break, burst, or deteriorate from wear and tear. To avoid problems such as hardwood floor water damage, consider getting stainless steel tubes or pipes as a replacement. Besides being stain-resistant and corrosion-resistant, stainless steel is known for its strength, durability, and elegant look.
Check Appliance Seals
Seals and gaskets in refrigerators, freezers, and ice-makers play an essential role in keeping cool air in and warm air out. So if their rubber seals become dry or cracked, they can let warm air inside the appliance and consequently cause it to work harder to keep the temperature cold.
This can result in several issues, such as an ice buildup in the water line or excess moisture and condensation – both of which can ultimately cause appliance water leak damage.
Have Your Water Heater Regularly Inspected
Your water heating equipment helps you stay warm, especially during the colder months. However, it can also be the source of overwhelming stress and damage when it starts to leak. Water heaters can leak due to several reasons, from sediment collection and loose fittings to faulty temperature and pressure relief valves and age-related issues. Regardless of the cause, it’s worth emphasizing that water heater problems must not be ignored, as they can allow gallons of hot water to rush into your home.
Have your water heating unit regularly inspected whether or not you’ve noticed issues with it. This proactive approach can help you catch potential leaks and complications – and the expensive repairs that can come with them.
Consider Replacing Old Appliances
Buying a new refrigerator or upgrading your water heater is no simple investment. While you may still be convincing yourself that your appliance is still working “well enough,” the reality is that using machines way past their life expectancy will only put you at risk of costlier issues. Older appliances often consume more energy and are especially prone to leaking and breaking down because of their age.
Rather than getting replacements for their older parts, which only temporarily fixes the problem, consider investing in newer machines. Making the switch might be what you need to steer clear of leaks and water damage.
Get Help From Water Restoration Experts Available 24/7
Watching out for signs of damage and taking proper care of your appliances can help fend off leaks and the mess they can create. However, if you’re already past the point of prevention, getting immediate help is crucial in not only cleaning up your place but also protecting your floors, walls, and other affected structures from severe damage.
Bactronix is a certified and insured restoration company. Our local professionals deliver fast response times and quality workmanship to get properties back to their pre-loss condition, no matter the water damage. If a burst pipe, flooded basement, or overflowing dishwasher has left you feeling overwhelmed, know that you can call us for water damage restoration around the clock. You don’t have to deal with a water disaster alone; we are here to guide you through our straightforward cleanup and restoration plan. Contact us to get started!
