Avoiding Water Damage in your Home!
*380 Water Damage claims a month in Mecklenburg County Alone. *80% of water damage claims in homes are caused by appliance Failure.
Water Heaters
Dangerous Locations Attic Closets Inside the living area Crawl
How to know when your water heater is bad 1. The average life span is 8 to 15 years after this they will start to have problems 2. Check for signs of corrosion on the body of the heater 2. If you start to have less hot water without adjusting the heater's temperature, this is a sign that the water heater is suffering from a malfunction. 4. Replace a hot water heater if you notice moisture around the unit. You may have a slow leak that will worsen over time if the hot water heater is not replaced. 5. Examine the burner components of the hot water heater. As a hot water heater goes bad, the different burner pieces become clogged and rusty.
Ice maker lines Cracked line Bad Valve Possible Causes of Leaks 1) when you pull the refrigerator out to clean under it...the lines can become kinked or pinched (especially the copper ones) 2)the nut on the waterline can become loose where it connects to the valve at the wall (or at the refrigerator) 3) the valve at the wall can have issues causing it to leak
Recommendations for Icemaker Water Lines Kinked supply lined…….replace with stainless steel braided lines… get long enough to pull refrigerator all the way out. Check icemaker line a few days after installation Check behind refrigerator once every three months or as you clean behind it . Make sure always check valve at the same time Turn icemaker line off when leaving for longer than a week
Don’t neglect your icemaker line it can cause major damage to your home
Clothes Washing Machines Washier components, Connections, and Hoses Possible Causes of leaks 1. Water pressure 2. Old Hoses 3. Drain Hoses 4. Drain line
Ways to Stop Washier Leaks Install a washier tray. A good floor tray can be purchased for around $20 Replace hoses with steel braided tubing and check at least twice a year Turn off water lines to washier when leaving town (do not over tighten) Leave four inches gap between the back of your washing machine and the wall to avoid kinks Do not use the washier machine when not at home Install leak detection device or Alarm to notify you
Dish Washer's Clogged Filter Sink Overflow/Drain line clogged Connections and Water Supply line Dishwasher Hose
Dishwasher Flood Prevention Check dishwater hose under the sink for signs of brittleness or leakage Check Drain line regularly and clean Check connections and tighten as needed Professional Plumbing inspection once a year Replace connections and line every 5 years regardless of condition Do not run Dishwasher when not at home or when you go to bed
Toilets and Toilet supply faulty supply lines toilet flanges
fill valve assemblies toilets that backed up and overflowed
Loss Prevention and Maintenance Tips After flushing, remain in or near the bathroom. If the bowl or tank begins to overflow, turn off the water at the supply valve. Inspect the flushing mechanism inside the toilet every six months. Replace the flapper or fill valve assembly if you notice intermittent or constant tank refilling when the toilet is not in use. . Inspect the supply line every six months. Operate the valve to make sure the water supply will shut off. Replace if needed
AC Condensation Lines Condensate trap debris dry-out cycle Improperly-installed condensate drain lines Insects, insect nests Condensate overflow pan drain blockage sludge forms in an air-conditions's drain line
Cleaning Air Conditioning or Heat Pump Condensate Drain to Avoid Leaks & Damage Suck the debris from the drain pan with a wet/dry vacuum Air conditioning condensate drain lines should have maintenance perform at least once per year Make sure the drain line slopes down from the air handler Pour water down pour spout twice a year. ( if you do not have a pour spout have one installed)
Pex Lines No where water shut off is to your house Don’t wait to get help if you have a flood is the homeowners responsibility to get help