How Can Raleigh Homeowners Lessen The Chances of Water Damage?

3/28/2023 (Permalink)

No matter where the water damage is in your home, SERVPRO tackles it and makes it "Like it never even happened."

SERVPRO Tips for Raleigh Property Owners to Avoid Water Cleanup

While burst pipes or floodwater in a Raleigh property are not unavoidable, there are things homeowners can do to lessen the potential. SERVPRO put together a list of actions property owners can use to take proactive measures against many types of damage from water.

Water damage in a Raleigh home can be expensive for a homeowner. The National Association of Water Companies (NAWC) estimated in a recent report that there are 650 broken water mains per day across the United States. That number will continue to increase as the pipes across America age and do not receive timely repairs or replacement. Most homeowners should be aware that water issues in the plumbing running through their property are not the problem of the local water company. It is on the homeowner for the repairs unless specifically covered. That is why regular inspections can nip water issues in the bud before they become large, expensive, damaging events within the structure. SERVPRO offers up the following tips to point out actions that homeowners can take to inhibit the potential for needing water cleanup in their homes.

Water Damage Potential Areas to Watch

Here is a brief overview for local homeowners to avoid water damage:

• Consider the age and state of repair for the plumbing within the home
• Notice any trees on the property that could have roots affecting pipes between the yard and the street
• Clay soil has minerals that can corrode pipes

Older Pipes At The Root Of Water Mitigation Issues

According to the NAWC, the majority of the water pipes in the U.S. average 45 years or older. The older the plumbing is, the more likely it will need repair or undergo water damage causing a break.

Tree Roots Can Destroy Water Pipes

The water damage potential from a pipe back up in a home has the potential to cause thousands of dollars in damages. Regularly looking for signs of a tree root invasion into a line can save homeowners the stress and expense of this situation. Signs to look for are:

• Clogged or blocked drains happen regularly
• Gurgling sounds after flushing the toilet
• Sinkholes appearing in the yard can indicate a collapsed sewer pipe

Clay-Based Soil Can Cause Water Pipe Corrosion

When there is a large-scale leak outside of the home, it is usually only a matter of time until the water damage causes problems inside the property ranging from foundation issues to mold. While sandy soils have the least corrosive properties, soil with clay can have a high chloride content to damage the pipes over time, leading to leaks or weakening enough to burst.

Preparing for Water Damage

Another issue in Raleigh homes that can bring water damage is the sudden change in the weather. In a study completed by the ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers), a mere ten-degree drop in temperature can stress main and service lines to the point of breakage, particularly in the cases of old pipes that need replacement. It is not unusual for sudden cold snaps to occur in this area. The simple act of winterizing exterior faucets by turning off the local supply and adding a Thinsulate covering can help avoid freezing pipes when the occasional winter storm or clipper system rolls through the area.

SERVPRO of Southeast Raleigh / Garner at (919) 615-1179 serves the Raleigh area with professional water damage mitigation services. The trained technicians arrive quickly to handle the extraction and drying for the property.