4 Tips to Avoid Water Damage in Your Home

As the weather gets warmer and the trees begin to flower, those of us who live in temperate climates know that spring is finally among us. However, with all of the benefits that come with the season, such as warmer weather, there are also drawbacks; especially the spring showers. Although this may provide much-needed water for your lawns and gardens, excessive rain that falls in April can cause significant water damage to your home if you don’t take the proper precautions. To prevent this from happening, here are several tips on ways you can prevent water damage to your home:

1. Fix leaks.

This may seem obvious, but a surprising amount of people don’t know how to act in the situation that a leak appears in their roof or other areas of their home. Many simply believe that they can place a bucket under it to collect the water and that you can work on fixing it once the rains stop. However, if you have a leak, you must act immediately to fix it, as the longer water continues to seep through it, the larger it will get – until finally, you may experience flooding.

2. Protect your roof.

Take measures to protect your roof in the event of heavy rains, such as by placing a tarp over certain sections that you believe to be weaker and more prone to leakage. You can also invest in a rubber roof underlayment, which will serve to block water advancing into your home if it gets past the shingles that cover your roof.

3. Clear gutters.

One of the greatest causes of flooding and water damage is gutter buildup. your home’s gutters are built to allow rainwater to flow through and escape out onto the ground rather than collecting on your roof. However, if your gutters are clogged with leaves, dirt and other debris, the water will not be able to get through, and will instead percolate in the shallowest areas of your roof. This encourages leaking and, eventually, water damage.

4. Get insured.

You can’t always prevent floods from happening, even if you take the time and effort to insulate your roof or clear out your gutters. That’s why you should always purchase flood insurance if you live in a flood-prone area; that way, you know that you have a backup plan if your flood prevention measures fail.
If you do not currently have insurance to protect your home from flood damage, now is the time to inquire! Prevent major headaches down the road ask about our coverage options for your home by clicking here.