Top 5 Causes of Water Damage in the Home

1. Broken pipes & hoses – burst water main, aging old pipes, washing machine supply hoses and ice maker hoses that fail: Remedy – Buy the metal braided washing machine lines and copper pipes for ice makers. Have a plumber come in and inspect pipes in old homes and replace them with PVC if necessary. A few dollars spent now is worth thousands later!

2. Accidents: Overflowing bathtubs or broken toilets. The most common cause: children! Anyone reading this post who has small children can relate – probably with a smile and a story of your own. Remedy - Watch kids! Water is fascinating – especially when it's flowing over the tub and toilet rim!

3. Sewer back up: Presents a health hazard, smells bad, looks worse. Most common cause: Tree roots invading and clogging drain lines – trees like the readily available fertilizer and water! Remedy: Call your plumber and ask them about enzyme drain treatments that can be flushed on a monthly basis during Spring and Summer months when tree roots grow most prolifically.

4. Long term basement humidity. The most common cause: hydrostatic pressure and aging infrastructure. The simple solution: install a dehumidifier. However, that's a symptomatic fix and only works for a small amount of water. For large scale water intrusion, contact the experts to get an assessment. Once you receive the report, and ONLY then, contact a basement waterproofing expert and make sure you get THREE quotes.

5. Flash flooding: This is the rarest type of water intrusion in the home. It occurs when you least expect it and in areas that traditionally don't expect flooding. Remedy – Always purchase flood insurance if available!

Remember: With any kind of water damage in the home, time is of the essence! Drying the home in three days or less prevents growth of potentially dangerous mold.

Top 5 Causes of Water Damage in the Home

Top 5 Causes of Water Damage in the home
1. Broken pipes&hoses – burst water main, aging old pipes, washing machine supply hoses and ice maker hoses that fail: Remedy – get Thee to Home Depot or Lowes and buy the metal braided washing machine lines and copper pipes for ice makers. Have a plumber come in and inspect pipes in old homes and replace them with PVC if necessary. A few dollars spent now is worth thousands later!
2. Accidents: Overflowing bathtubs or broken toilets. The most common cause: children! Anyone reading this post who has small children can relate – probably with a smile and a story of your own. Remedy - Watch kids! Water is fascinating – especially when it's flowing over the tub and toilet rim!
3. Sewer back up: Oooo, nasty! Most common cause: Tree roots invading and clogging drain lines – trees like the readily available fertilizer and water! Remedy: Home Depot and Lowes both sport "enzyme" drain treatments that can be flushed on a monthly basis during Spring and Summer months when tree roots grow most prolifically.
4. Long term basement humidity. The most common cause: hydrostatic pressure and aging infrastructure. The simple solution: install a dehumidifier. However, that's a symptomatic fix and only works for a small amount of water. For large scale water intrusion, contact the experts – home inspectors first – to get an assessment. Once you receive the report, and ONLY then, contact a basement waterproofing expert and make sure you get THREE quotes.
5. Flash flooding: This is the rarest type of water intrusion in the home. It occurs when you least expect it (like Monty Python's Spanish Inquisition) and in areas that traditionally don't expect flooding. Remedy – Always purchase flood insurance if available!
Remember: With any kind of water damage in the home, time is of the essence! Drying the home in three days or less prevents growth of toxic mold.

8 Tips to Prevent Mold Growth in the Basement

1. Keep the humidity levels in check: Ideal humidity levels in your basement should be below 45% To do this, use a dehumidifier.
2. Do not grow plants inside the basement.
3. Keep your basement clutter free! Clutter disrupts the free flow of air in your basement and increases humidity - creating the perfect breeding ground for mold.
4. Use only plastic storage boxes&bins. Cardboard provides the perfect growth medium for mold!
5. Say ‘No' to wood - Make sure that you are not storing wood in your basement. Wood makes for an ideal habitat for the mold to grow.
6. Use an exhaust fan to vent out and stale and humid air and let fresh air in.
7. Insulate water pipes - cold water pipes cause condensation of moisture on the exterior of the pipes .
8. Use extensions to drain gutter water away from the foundation of the house
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8 Tips to Prevent Mold in the Basement

1. Keep the humidity levels in check: Ideal humidity levels in your basement should be below 45% To do this, use a dehumidifier.
2. Do not grow plants inside the basement.
3. Keep your basement clutter free! Clutter disrupts the free flow of air in your basement and increases humidity - creating the perfect breeding ground for mold.
4. Use only plastic storage boxes&bins. Cardboard provides the perfect growth medium for mold!
5. Say ‘No' to wood - Make sure that you are not storing wood in your basement. Wood makes for an ideal habitat for the mold to grow.
6. Use an exhaust fan to vent out and stale and humid air and let fresh air in.
7. Insulate water pipes - cold water pipes cause condensation of moisture on the exterior of the pipes .
8. Use extensions to drain gutter water away from the foundation of the house.