Most Common Causes of Home Water Damage

Winter, summer, spring, fall; water damage doesn’t have a favorite season. It can happen year-round and cause a whole lot of headaches in the process. At Yellow Van Cleaning and Restoration, we have the knowledge, expertise, and equipment to dry and restore your home to the way it was before the flood happened, no matter how big or small.

We also want to be a resource for you to keep your Grand Island home in tip-top shape! This blog has some tips to help you get ahead of a potential moisture issue.

Appliance Malfunctions

There are a lot of household appliances that can malfunction and lead to water damage. An old, rusted out hot water heater can flood a pretty large area with water very quickly. Older appliances are the most usual culprits, so it is a good idea to keep an eye on washing machines, dishwashers, and other aging appliances to be sure hoses and pipe connections are still in good shape and the appliance is running properly.

Frozen Pipes

This might seem like a no-brainer, but if you’ve ever had pipes in your house freeze, you know it can be a costly thing to repair. So, turning up the heat even a few degrees could be worth it in the long run – saving you money and the headache of a burst pipe. This is especially important if your home sits atop an uninsulated crawl space.

If you live over an uninsulated crawl space or have a poorly insulated basement, you should consider adding some insulation ASAP! Not only will this help keep your pipes from freezing, it will likely help keep your whole home warmer.

Also, never allow your home to drop below 55 degrees, even when you are away. We know it can be tempted to save on your heating bill when you’re on a tropical vacation in the middle of our cold Nebraska winters, but paying for a little heat to be pumping into your home will be worth it over dealing with frozen pipes!

Plumbing Problems

Detecting plumbing problems before they happen can be difficult as most pipes are hidden in walls and ceilings. From time to time, take a quick glance under sinks to make sure everything is fully attached. If you see what appears to be a damp spot on a wall or ceiling, don’t hesitate to ask a professional company like Yellow Van to come in and take a look at the area.

Pipes that burst or leak often have clogs somewhere in the system and become overwhelmed due to pressure from the backup, and give way. This could be a garbage disposal or toilet, or even roots growing into the drain lines in your yard. Rusty pipes can also be a problem.

Problems in the “Unseen” Spaces

If we had to guess, we would say it’s likely there are places in your home that are much less frequent than others – like the attic, crawl space, and parts or all of your basement. This is also where much of the infrastructure of your home sits. When was the last time you checked on your hot water heater or a sump pump in the basement? Have you looked for leaks in the attic, through the roof? What about cracks in your home’s foundation? Keeping tabs on the condition of your home throughout the year can help you get ahead of a potentially bigger moisture problem later if it goes undetected.