Water damage is troubling for both home sellers and home buyers.
Sellers will need to find the problem, solve the issue, and fix any damage that may have gone along with the water leak.
Home buyers will need to know about any water issue in the home they are buying. Luckily for them, a disclosure form and home inspection should bring any past problems to light before they invest in a troubling home with lingering water damage issues.
Typical Flooding Issues
Believe it or not natural disasters are not what home owners need to be concerned about when thinking about home flooding. Even for those Coral Gables luxury homes that might find themselves in line of a hurricane, the truth is accidental flooding in homes is typically caused by an appliance or plumbing failure.
According to the experts at Roto-Rooter Plumbing and Drain Service the weather is the least of a home owner’s worries. Catastrophic damage can be done if flooding starts when no one is at home. Even worse, is if residents are on vacation and water damage sits for any extended period of time.
Generally, flooding incidents can cost the average home owner more than $5,000 to repairs.
Which Appliances Need Inspection
To prevent accidental flooding caused by an appliance or a plumbing failure, a thorough inspection of the following items should be done by home owners routinely:
Washing Machine Hose
Leaving water supply lines turned on to washing machines can be a major problem if a hose bursts. Water lines like this can discharge at up to 500 gallons per hour. Any washing machine hoses that are more than five years old need to be replaced. Make sure to replace them with steel-braided hoses, which can last twice as long as other washing machine hoses.
Ice Maker Water Line
Ice maker water lines need to be inspected at least once a year to ensure they are in good working order and remain unobstructed to protect Coral Gables luxury homes or similar real estate. Failure usually occurs after a refrigerator is moved and the line gets pinched or just over time. Roto-Rooter Plumbing and Drain Service experts recommend replacing plastic or copper lines with steel-braided lines, which aren’t expensive and much stronger.
Dishwasher Water Supply Line
Water from the kitchen sink’s supply is usually fed to the dishwasher. The faucet line from beneath the sink leads to the dishwasher and its drain hose runs back from the appliance to the sink or disposal. Inspect the line twice a year for signs of wear and tear or evidence of a leak.
Water Heater
Water heaters are well-known culprits when it comes to home floods. They can rupture and cause serious damage. The best way to prevent this type of water damage to Coral Gables luxury homes or other properties is to inspect the tank and all plumbing fittings twice a year. Remember that water heaters have a life expectancy of about 11 years. After about the age of 8, home owners should check on their water heaters even move often.
Flood Alarms
Many home owners have never heard of flood alarms, but these little devices can be a real money saver.
Flood alarm and water leak alarms will alert you instantly of a leak before the water damages your home and property. They can be purchased at most any home improvement store for less than $15-$20.
Battery-operated, all you have to do is place flood alarms on the floor near each of these appliances. If water starts to spread from one of these appliances, the alarm will sound so you can act quicker.
There also are automatic shut-off valves that can be installed on appliances with their own audible alarms. It’s best for a professional plumber to install these types of valves to ensure it is done correctly. More expensive than flood alarms, shut-off valves can save thousands in flood cleanup costs.
