Even the term “water damage” is enough to send a shiver up any homeowner’s spine. Water damage is among the worst kind of property damage that can happen to your Tampa Bay home. It’s expensive, hard to notice (until it really isn’t), and worst of all: comprehensive. Water doesn’t just damage parts of your home; it can hurt a lot more.
It’s always better to prepare early than it is to react too late. Preparing for home water damage is no exception. Prepare for water damage now, and you could save yourself a major headache–and expense–in the future. Below, are a few of the most common causes of residential water damage that happen to Tampa Bay homes, and how you can prevent them.
Hidden Pipe Leaks
All pipe leaks lead to water damage, for obvious reasons. The most damaging pipe leaks are the ones that go unnoticed the longest. The longer a pipe leaks, the most water it spills into areas where water isn’t meant to be. When water leaks, it can wear away at surroundings, cause mold growth, and ruin sensitive materials. Unfortunately, leaks that are difficult to see can also inflict some of the most significant damage to your home.
Generally, homeowners may not notice leaks because the pipes leaking are “invisible” pipes located behind walls. Displaced water from these invisible plumbing leaks wears away at insulation, drywall, scaffolding, and other supporting materials. If they’re left alone long enough, they can inflict serious structural damage on a home. Always try to find hidden pipe leaks early. Keep a close eye on your water bill. If you notice any unexplained fluctuations in cost, a plumbing leak could be the culprit. Always fix leaks as quickly as possible to minimize damage to your home and the waste of water.
Excess Condensation
If an area of your home gets too humid, condensation could form on various surfaces. Air conditioning units are particularly vulnerable to condensation accumulation. All this condensation eventually slides from the fixture it formed on and collects in puddles. To make matters worse, you probably don’t spend much time in the humid areas of your home. When puddles build up in attics and crawl spaces, they can cause all kinds of trouble.
AC units tend to produce quite a bit of condensation naturally. They create cool air by pulling in warm air from outside and running over evaporator coils. This process also pulls moisture from the air, which condenses into condensation. Usually, this condensation accumulates on a condensate (or drain) pan inside the air conditioning unit. If the pan is damaged, however, then the condensation can’t build on it. Instead, it accrues in and around the unit. Make sure your AC unit properly disposes of condensation to protect yourself from a very common form of water damage.
Leaking Plumbing Fixtures
Any water-using fixture can begin leaking water. The type of water damage a leaking fixture can do depends on where it is and how bad the leak is. Toilets, p-traps, and dishwashers are particularly prone to leaking. Toilets leak when the sealing wears out. If the flapper inside the tank gets damaged, tank water might also leak into the bowl. P-traps often partially detach from connective pipes or crack under pressure. Dishwashers will start leaking if nearly any of their parts are damaged.
Fixture leaks inflict a wide variety of water damage. Toilet leaks can wear away at the integrity of the floor beneath the toilet. Over time, the toilet could even collapse through the floor! P-trap leaks could hurt the cabinets surrounding them, doing permanent or expensive furniture or wood damage. Leaking dishwashers hurt counters, flooring, wood–you name it. The best way to prevent that kind of damage is to make sure your fixtures don’t start leaking in the first place. If they do, fix them fast!
The most important way to prevent water damage is to fix the problems that lead to it fast. If you’re dealing with a plumbing leak, let professionals at Cass Plumbing know right away.
The next time you’re worried about water damage in your Tampa Bay home, don’t be! Just call Cass Plumbing right away.
