Water damage is a homeowner’s worst nightmare in Sarasota, Florida. Not only is it expensive to repair, but it can damage the foundation of your home and may also lead to health problems. If you are disciplined about fixing small problems once you notice them, you can easily prevent most water damage from occurring in the first place. 1. Clean your gutters regularly Have you ever looked inside your gutters after a rainstorm and found them filled with twigs, leaves, and dirt? During the rainy season here in Sarasota, it’s important to regularly check gutters for natural debris. In addition to inspecting and cleaning gutters, installing gutter protectors is an effective way to help ensure that your gutter systems continue to function properly throughout the year. 2. Do not skip maintenance surfaces A leaky roof is one of the most common types of water damage. Sarasota rain can hit your roof, so it’s wise to check for damage at least several times each year. 3. Strengthen the foundation of your home with extra soil. Soil naturally absorbs large amounts of water, so it makes sense to have as much of it as possible around your foundation. Many homeowners apply additional soil to form slopes that create a natural drainage system, and we encourage all of our customers to consider this strategy. 4. Cutting down your trees and shrubs If trees and shrubs on your property begin to develop roots in your pipes, your drainage system, your irrigation system or your sewage system, you can expect floods and other water damage sooner than Later. Check with your landscaping company to make sure they keep vegetation out of your water system, and always allow ample space when planting new trees. 5. Be vigilant about maintaining the health of your sprinkler system Since Sarasota does not usually reach freezing temperatures in the winter months, you don’t have to worry about pipes freezing in your sprinkler system. However, during the summer months, you will need to be vigilant about keeping puddles away from your establishment. Stagnant water from your sprinkler system can settle on your foundation and cause some unnecessary damage. 6. Close any cracks in your concrete immediately. The second time you notice a crack in your floor, yard, or driveway, it is important to take action right away. The most common cracks are easier to seal with a little clogging, and you can usually deal with larger cracks with a concrete patch. 7. Know how to shut down the main water system If you see a flood or leak inside your home, you will need to know where the main water shutoff valve is. It is always important to know where this is located in case it is needed. To find a shut-off valve, look near the water meter or near the foundation. 8. Check your washer and dryer for leaks Leaked appliances are one of the most common causes of residential water damage, so it pays to take a little time to keep the washer and dryer running properly. If you notice stagnant water in your laundry room, do not hesitate to contact a specialist to go out and get an examination. Be vigilant about monitoring the area near the refrigerator, too. 9. Schedule regular inspections of your water heater If you have an old water heater, have the unit inspected for rust and leaks at least once a year. Between inspections, pay attention to the color of your tap water. Dark water or rust is usually a sign of water heater corrosion, and corrosion can cause all kinds of problems for pipes. 10. Check the Capacitor Line in Your Home If you are like most of the Sarasota homeowners we talk to, you will likely be running an air conditioner from May through October to combat the Florida heat. However, when you work on your air conditioner with this force, it is possible for the condensate line to build up enough biological material to clog the tube. When this happens, the drain pan can overflow, causing damage to the ceiling, floor, or walls, depending on where your air handler is located. It is a good idea to check periodically that the condensate tube is properly draining the water outside your home. Look for a white PVC tube that’s dripping water outside near the condensing unit. If the air conditioner is running and the tube does not drip, you will most likely need to clean the tube. You can extract the stopper using an empty shop or contact an HVAC technician. 11. Reinforce all entry points into your home with an additional sealant. Even if you do a great job maintaining your roof, water can still enter through your windows and doors. Closing windows with clogging is an effective way to keep the heavy rain outside where it belongs, and you can use weather stripping around loose door supports as an extra layer of protection. Sealed doors and windows also keep more air inside your home and reduce your monthly energy bill by a few dollars. 12. Check the kitchen sink for slow draining. Some types of food can clog the sink more than others. Ground coffee and potato peelings, for example, are known to support kitchen pipelines across America. If your kitchen sink is taking much longer than usual to drain itself, make it a priority to get that food out of the drain right away. 13. Check your bathroom faucets A leaky bathroom faucet can slowly start to plant the right conditions for biological growth to grow under countertops and in cabinets, and even high-quality sink fixtures can cause minor cracks. The bathroom faucet attachment points are the most vulnerable, so pay close attention to the knobs and the drain lever. 14. Sealing any gaps in your bathroom tiles When you go out of the bathroom or climb out of a bathtub, you take excess water with you and drip this water onto the bathroom tiles. As long as your tiles are sealed with completely intact grout, this excess water should not cause any problems. If you notice gaps in the tile laying on the floor or wall, you should close them immediately. 15. Keep your cooking oil away from the sink. Sometimes cooking with oils is necessary, but you don’t want liquid fats to be anywhere near your drain system. If you poured grease, olive oil, or melted butter into the kitchen sink when washing dishes, these grease could clog your drainage system as it hardens. Instead, pour leftover cooking oil into a disposable bowl. 16. Turn off the water if you are going for more than 24 hours. Even if you are just going to be out of town for the weekend, it is a good idea to turn off the water in your home when you are away. If a pipe leaks and nobody notices it, you’ll hope you took this advice. Fortunately, it only takes a few minutes to turn off the water valve and no tools are required. If you currently have water damage in your Florida home, our specialists can help fix everything quickly. Our plumbers handle jobs of all sizes, and you can always reach a technician through the 24/7 emergency line if you need extra help. To make an appointment with the most reliable plumbing repair experts in Sarasota, contact Aqua Plumbing & Air today. Image provided by iStock
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