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.