Tips to Prevent Water Damage

by Kevin Smith Author

Sometimes water gets into your house and leaves you with a big mess. It’s a multi-step process that involves draining the water, drying out anything that retained moisture, repairing what you can, and disposing of what you must. Parts of this process can be unsafe, since the water may spread mold or contain other hazards, so it’s best to call for water restoration in Alpharetta if water damages your home. However, there are a few steps you can take to prevent the water from getting in to begin with.

Home Inspections

As a homeowner, you should regularly walk around and make sure nothing’s damaged in the building or yard. For instance, you should keep an eye on your water heater. When that starts to age, it may start acting oddly, or it might smell or sound damaged. You might even see extra water on or near it. You can handle some of these inspections yourself, checking for anything out of the ordinary near sinks, plumbing, and anything else that uses water. Other inspections will likely require a professional. For instance, you may sometimes need to call professionals to check on your sewers to make sure the valves operate properly or to check on your roof to inspect the slope, shingles, and gutters. These all need to be just right to carry water away from your house so that it doesn’t try to go down into your basement.

Basement Waterproofing

Water tends to collect in the basement since that’s the lowest point in the house, so that’s the main area to address. Figure out where in your basement water could get in and address any cracks or leaks that you find. You can coat bare interior walls with a masonry waterproofing product if it seems water might get in that way. You can also waterproof with your floors in a number of ways, such as epoxy paint or sealed concrete. You also have some options to get out any water that comes in. You can install a floor drain, a French drain, or a sump pump. Some people even have two water removal methods standing by in case they need a backup. You can discuss your basement with a company specializing in water restoration in Alpharetta, and they can help you figure out what you need. These systems come with some up-front costs, but they can potentially save you hundreds or thousands of dollars, so if you have a basement, you should check out your drainage options as soon as possible.