What Are Some Water Damage Safety Tips For Your Norwalk Home?

3/16/2022 (Permalink)

We’ve all seen the news reports and social media posts showing water damage to homes and businesses after a flood or a heavy rain. A malfunctioning appliance or burst pipes can do a lot of damage, too. Disasters like that are usually unexpected, and if you aren’t prepared for whatever may happen, your Norwalk home can suffer more water damage than necessary.

How Can I Keep My Norwalk Location Safe From Wet Weather? 

The rain, snow, and ice you see in the Norwalk area can create problems on your property. Take a good look around your home to check your wet weather preparedness.

• Do exterior doors fit as tightly as they should, and are both doors and windows properly weather-stripped?
• The roof of your garage or toolshed needs to be well-maintained, too, to protect lawn tools and machinery, vehicles and stored items from water damage. 
• The parking lot or driveway of your Norwalk home needs to have a well-planned drainage system so that family members and visitors can get to and from their vehicles safely. If people have to wade in from their cars, your flooring will suffer, and a slip-and-fall accident due to wet floors can be a disaster, too. 
• Your rain gutters and spouts need to be checked on a regular basis, too. If your rain gutters become clogged with debris such as dead leaves or small branches, they aren’t going to be able to drain away rain water. As water backs up, it can leak back into the walls of your building and you can find yourself with water damage, and even mold.
• Power lines and telephone poles near your house can be an issue when storm season comes. Contact your utilities companies and have them come take a look prior to wet weather to make sure your location will be safe. Be aware of the condition of any large trees on your property, too. If the grounds of your property of business become saturated, a tree with an unstable root base can fall.

What Steps Should I Take To Protect My Norwalk Home From Water Damage?

Proper maintenance and inspection of appliances, your HVAC units, and plumbing will go a long way towards keeping you safe from water damage.

• If you see a leak - even a tiny one - investigate it immediately! Once you find the source, take steps to have it fixed right away. Remember that water left sitting for any length of time is an invitation to a mold infestation.
• Older appliances may need to be replaced BEFORE they malfunction. Most large home appliances, such as your refrigerator, are good for about ten years. You can have them inspected by a professional to see if they need maintenance. 
• Water damage from interior plumbing will give itself away through odors or water spots on floors, walls, or ceilings. If any indications appear, call a professional water damage company to help.  

If the worst happens, the team here at SERVPRO of Huron & East Seneca Counties is standing ready to help in any way we can! We have the expertise to handle water and storm damage, and we specialize in mold remediation. If you have sustained water damage to your Norwalk home, give us a call at (419) 595-4547!

This franchise is independently owned and operated.