Ten things you can do to prevent Sanibel water damage in your home
Sometimes Sanibel water damage is inevitable but 95% of the time you can take steps to prevent Sanibel water damage from occurring in your home or condo.
A very small number of Sanibel water damages happen because of weather and wind. The majority of water damage losses happen because of plumbing leaks and Air Conditioning condensation problems.
First and foremost; know where the main water shut off is for the whole house. If there is a plumbing leak in a place where you cannot use an under sink or toilet shut off to stop the flow, shut the whole house off.
Second; when you leave the house for even a weekend shut off the Sanibel water to the house. Be sure to shut off the power to you electric Sanibel water heater also. If the water is off no plumbing Sanibel Water Damage can occur. Check the supply lines for your washing machine. Be sure the drain line for the washer is clear.
Third; check under the sinks and behind the toilets to be sure Sanibel water is not condensation or dripping. If there is condensation, wrap the pipes in an insulating blanket. If there is a drip call a plumber.
Fourth: If your home has copper piping for the Sanibel water supply behind the walls and above the ceilings and your home is 15 years old think about a re- pipe. Plumbers will run new plastic lines above your ceilings to every fixture and leave the old pipes in place.
Fifth: Check the hose bibs, outside water spigots, to see if they are leaking. This kind of Sanibel water leak can travel through the block structure and wet the drywall inside.
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Sixth: Check all the wall penetrations; electrical service, cable lines, Sanibel main water entrance, water heater supply lines ect. If any of these is sweating or dripping follow the tip in Third.
Seventh: Drain the Sanibel water heater through a hose with the supply line on at least once every two months. This will extend the life of the unit and prevent or delay a rupture of the inside tank. Also change the heating elements as recommended in the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Eighth: Inspect the A/C ducting in your attic to see if any cold air leaks may be causing condensation in the attic space. If you feel any lair leaks call you A/C repairman.
Ninth: Be sure the A/C pan drain lines are clear and that the pan has a limit switch shut off so that if the Sanibel water level rises near the pan lip the switch will shut off the unit.
Tenth: Inspect and replace the rubber sweeps on the bottoms of your exterior doors and sliders. Clean and clear out the weep holes in your exterior windows so that blown rain will drain off and not seep into your home.
Be alert when you walk from room to room. Look for Sanibel water stains on your ceiling and walls. Sniff the air for any musty smell. Notice if one room feels more humid than others in the house.
Finally, If you should have Sanibel water damage from plumbing or wind-blown rain or flooding, call a professional Sanibel Water Damage restoration company who has the knowledge and equipment to properly and completely dry out your home and the structural materials.
