Top Reasons For Water Damage

6/25/2020 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of Indianapolis East. Our expert technicians are trained to handle a mess like this.

Water damage can happen to your Indianapolis home or business in many different ways. In this blog, we will outline some of the most common sources of water damage. It's very likely that you have had water damage at one point or another, or may know someone who has.

If you think about water damaging your home, you might imagine the cause to be from a hurricane, tornado, or other natural catastrophes. The unfortunate reality is that most water damages are caused when ordinary household appliances fail. It's important to know the areas around your home that pose a threat for damage, and what to do after it happens.

Washing Machines

Washing machine leaks are one of the most common causes of flood damage in a home and can result in significant damage not only in the laundry room but also in adjacent rooms and areas. Some laundry rooms are located on the second floor of homes, and that can cause multi-level damage. Replace rubber and plastic hoses with reinforced steel braided hose. Check connections periodically to make sure they are secure and replace the hoses every five years.

Sewer and Drain Backups

Sewer water has the potential to cause health issues, not to mention the odor that accompanies it. Understandably, this can bring serious issues to the home or business owner. The water that backs up from a sewer is classified as "Blackwater." It can contain all types of harmful contaminants and can be very dangerous. For these reasons, a professional cleanup company like SERVPRO of Indianapolis East, is highly recommended. Call our office, and we will respond immediately to make your home safe again.

Bathroom Leaks

Bathroom water leaks cause significant damage to a home. This is especially true if the bathroom is located upstairs. The main culprit is usually a supply line to the shower or toilet. We can't see the copper pipes that carry the water inside the walls, but we can see and inspect the supply line to the toilet. It's a good idea to replace the older line with a stronger braided one. These steel braided hoses are less likely to fail and are a proactive way to lessen the chance of having a leak.

Frozen Pipes

Central Indiana is well known for having all for seasons. We have weeks in winter with severe weather when temperatures drop to single digits, and even in negative numbers. When outdoor temperatures drop that low homes and businesses are likely to suffer from broken pipes. The water inside pipes can freeze when outdoor temperatures drop below freezing. As freezing water expands, it causes the pressure inside the pipes to increase, possibly leading to bursting pipes. There are a few ways to help prevent this from happening.

Insulate pipes, especially those close to outside walls, attics, and crawl spaces where the chance of freezing is greatest. Open your cabinet doors under the sinks; this allows warmer air to circulate to the pipes. Seal air leaks surrounding pipes and keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.

The Refrigerator

The copper pipe that brings in water to the ice maker might have a bad or loose connection, or it could be pinched. Just like the other appliances in our homes, the fridge has a water supply line with continuous pressure in it. If that line becomes loose or broken in any way, water will spill out until the source is turned off. It's a great idea to familiarize yourself with where to go to shut the water off in case something like this happens to you.

Sump Pump Failure

If you have a basement, you understand the importance of a sump pump. Without one, water can seep into your basement and cause lots of damage. One of the most common causes of a flooded basement is a sump pump that stopped working. This could be that the pump is old and mechanically broken, but most likely, it's due to a power supply loss. When storms roll through, we can lose power to our homes at times. That's why it's so important to have a battery backup in place in the event this happens to you.

Call The Service Professionals

If you should suffer water damage, whether from a weather-related event or a cracked pipe, overflowing bathtub or toilet, call the water damage experts at SERVPRO of Indianapolis East 317-222-5068 for 24-hour emergency service. You can also click here to contact us online. At SERVPRO of Indianapolis East, we have specialized equipment, professional training, and certifications that allow us to restore your home or business to its pre-water damage condition and make it "Like it never even happened."