While it may have felt like the winter would never end this year, the fact is that summer is hot on our heels! What a great time to get out in the fresh air, visit with family and friends and get outdoors and really enjoy your home. Still, even if you want yours to be the place where everyone parties this summer, you need to be proactive to prevent issues like water damage.
“Water damage? How am I susceptible to that?”
Water damage comes in many forms and can be a real problem if not taken care of swiftly and, even better, stopped before it begins! Here are a few tips to prevent water damage this summer.
Avoid Grease Buildup
John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John may have tried to tell you that grease was the word, but grease can be a real cause of water damage to your home. When you pour grease from your summer cookouts down the drain, you are just asking for buildup. No matter how much hot or cold water you follow it with, congealing happens and that is nobody’s idea of a good time.
Watch Out for Roots
Believe it or not, water damage in your home can actually begin in your yard. You may think that plants soak up all the water you could throw at them, and while that’s true, there are more insidious ways that plants can become your nightmare during summer. Certain plants and trees have invasive roots that can grow right into your septic tank or sprinkler system. So, make sure you root out any plants that could leave you high and dry!
Clean Your Gutters
Keeping your roof gutters clean is almost too obvious of a way for you to keep water from coming into your home, but it’s got to be mentioned. Even if you don’t have trees nearby, it’s a good idea to get up there and check it out. Leaves and other debris can blow in and never leave. Add in things like bird nests, squirrel hangouts and other critters, and you are just asking for water damage.
Keep an Eye on Your Water Bill
Water is used all around and through your home. If you and your family are in a pretty predictable water use routine, you might not even think anything of it. Just because your water bill is on auto-pay, though, you still should take a look at it. If you notice an unusual uptick in usage, it may not be from long showers. It may be because there is a leak in your water system. Patch that leak up, and get your water use back down to normal levels.
Water use is something that we all have a part in, but it’s important to monitor your use, so that you don’t have something small that balloons into something bigger. Leaks are a problem in terms of usage and billing, but mold, damage and even flooding of whole rooms is where your small problem can lead to. So, take care of it before it takes care of you. Northeast Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas have depended on one name to keep their homes dry and running smoothly: Courtesy Care! With 24-hour emergency water damage and restoration services, Courtesy Care is the one name you can rely on. Before you need that emergency care, give us a call to see how you can prevent any kind of damaging water issues in the first place.
