Main Causes of Water Damage

The rain this weekend caused some people to realize that their roofs weren't as waterproof as they had previously thought. Water leaks may have been part of what inspired this reader's question: "What are the most common causes for water damage? I've been reading about how expensive water damage is and I want to make sure my house is protected."

There's an almost unlimited number of sources for water damage. It can occur any time something in a house that uses or carries water, such as appliances or pipes, becomes damaged, worn out or malfunctions and it can happen when something that is designed to keep out or contain water, like a roof or a sink, gets a leak. And even that doesn't begin to cover everything. That said there are some fairly common sources of water damage and many of them are preventable through maintenance and just generally paying attention.

Although this is not a very comprehensive or complete list, the causes of water damage can usually be broken down into the following four groups;

Broken or damaged appliances - Examples of this would include a leaking ice maker line, broken dish washer, water heater failing or a burst washing machine hose;

Plumbing issues - Some of these would be leaking pipes, overflowing toilets, sewer back-up or an overflowing bath tub;

Weather issues - Flooding due to heavy rain and freezing pipes would be some good examples of this;

 Maintenance problems or un-repaired damage - This could be a leaking roof, a broken sprinkler system or perhaps a damaged swamp cooler.

 While not entirely preventable, vigilance will help to reduce the risk of any of these things from becoming a big problem and it is much easier to prevent the problems before they occur whenever possible. Make sure to know who to call the event that water damage occurs, a quick response will minimize the extent of the water damage.

Water Damage and You

Here's a quick graphic with some bullet points on water damage, the information comes from several different sources in the insurance world. Enjoy!

Basics of Water Damage | Infographic

Cost Effective Solutions for Kitchen Updates

 Have you been considering updating your kitchen? That's what today's question is about. Our reader asks;

"I read that the number one room to remodel, if your looking to sell your
house, is the kitchen. How much does a kitchen remodel generally cost? What
are some good ways to freshen up a kitchen without spending a ton of money
on a full remodel. For example, we have beautiful cabinets, but ugly walls
and lighting."

The kitchen can be a make it or break it room when it comes to selling a house. A survey conducted by SieMatic suggests that as much as 85% of potential home buyers view the condition of a home's kitchen as a major consideration in their purchase choice. The problem is that a full kitchen remodel can be very expensive, often costing a much at $10,000 and up.

The solution is to focus on the things that will provide the most impact. In an article by real estate website zillow.com on the subject, the top three things to focus on are the appliances, counter tops and cabinets.

For some small improvement options that you can do yourself, consider new cabinet hardware, updating your faucet or giving your walls a fresh coat of paint.

If that isn't enough then consider consulting with a professional on options for counter tops, tile back splashes and lighting options.

Bundle Up for Cold Weather!

It sure doesn't seem like it with the weather we've been having lately during the day but cold is on the way and there are some things you should be looking at doing to get your home ready if you haven't already.

Our winter minded reader asks: "I've been hearing a lot about insulating external pipes, why is this important and is it something I can do myself? If so, how do I go about it?"

Uninsulated pipes that are exposed to the cold can freeze. At best this will cause a water flow problem in your house resulting in either low pressure or no water. However, it is more likely that as the water freezes and expands it will cause the pipes to rupture and leak which will result in potentially costly repairs.

The way to prevent this from happening is to insulate your pipes. This is a rather simple process that can be done by most home owners. You will need foam pipe insulation or insulated pipe wrap, pipe wrap tape (duct tape can also be used but doesn't withstand the elements as well) and a sharp utility knife.

If using the foam insulation:
Step 1: Use utility knife to cut foam to desired length.
Step 2: Wrap foam around exposed pipe.
Step 3: Wrap foam with the pipe tape (this will help protect the foam insulation in addition to securing it on the pipe).

If using the insulated pipe wrap:
Step 1: Wrap exposed pipe with the pipe wrap.
Step 2: Use utility knife to cut excess pipe wrap.

The process is a very straightforward one and will help keep your home safe during the cold winter nights. 

Just a Helpful Reminder...

Here's a quick list of 10 things you should do to make sure your home is ready for winter.

1. Drain sprinkler systems - Water left in a sprinkler system can freeze and will expand which can lead to ruptured pipes, drain any water in the system to prevent this.

2. Clean gutters - Remove any debris in the gutter to make sure any water can drain properly.

3. Change air filter in furnace - Replacing old filters will help your furnace to run more efficiently and limit dust particles in the air.

4. Check insulation - Areas with insufficient or non-existent insulation will lead to drafts and cause your heating bills to rise, address these areas before it gets cold.

5. Caulk and replace weatherstripping on doors and windows - Old windows and doors can get drafty and allow heat to escape, caulk seams and replace old weatherstripping to prevent this.

6. Inspect water heater - Make sure your water heater is in good working order, call a professional if you aren't sure what to look for.

7. Clean and cover air conditioning unit - While not in use it is best to protect your air conditioner from the elements, for homes using swamp coolers this will help prevent heat from escaping as well.

8. Check foundation - Make sure there aren't cracks or holes in or around your home, as the temperature drops small animals may start to think about sharing your home with you. Make sure to patch any openings.

9. Inspect roof - Cracks or holes in a roof will allow heat to escape and provide sources for leaks. Check your roof and make repairs as needed.

10. Insulate exposed water pipes and exterior faucets - Cold weather can freeze water in uninsulated pipes and even cause them to burst, wrap exposed pipes and cover exterior faucets to prevent this.

Mold: Can't just wipe it away.

It's been a productive day here at the Mr. Fix It web department, the first issue of the newsletter has just gone out and it seems that we still have time to address a question really quickly. As a brief side note, we won't use any names here unless specifically authorized beforehand.

With that said, on to our first question.

Our reader asks: "I think I may have mold growing in my laundry room, can I  just take care of it with some disinfectant spray?"

The short answer is no, you can't. If you see mold growing on the wall there's a very good chance that it's already been growing in the wall. Simply killing the mold on the wall won't solve the problem and it will continue to return.

Your best option is to get a trained professional to assess the situation. Many companies that handle mold remediation will do an assessment for free to confirm whether you have a case of microbial growth or not.

If you have mold growing in your wall, the wall will need to be opened up so that all the mold can be killed and any contaminated material can be removed. Often times mold growth is the result of an unaddressed leak or other form of water damage so it may be necessary to address that as well.

For further reading, please refer to these sites on mold and its removal and some information on the possible health risks from the Mold Help Organization.

Keep the questions coming!

With the brand new newsletter going out today it doesn't look like we'll be getting to answering anyone's questions just yet, we appreciate all the submissions though! Keep them coming and you'll start seeing answers getting posted tomorrow or Wednesday! In the meantime, come by and visit us on facebook!