4/26/2022 (Permalink)
Bad sewer lines or rusted pipes.
Hidden water damage.
Rotted wood or termites (learn more about termite letters)
Huge cracks in driveways or house foundation.
Bad or old ventilation or windows.
Septic system or heater issues.
Radon leaks.
Outdated wiring.
4/26/2022 (Permalink)
Homeownership helps families build wealth, in part, because it is a forced-savings mechanism. When homeowners make their mortgage payments, they are locking wealth away into their homes without having to think about it. Home prices tend to go up over time, which also contributes to wealth gains.
4/26/2022 (Permalink)
Know where your home’s main water supply shut-off is located, and how to use it.
SHUT OFF THE WATER TO YOUR HOUSE AND DRAIN THE PIPES
This may sound drastic, but it will keep your house from flooding. Take away the water and there’s no pressure on weak points in your system. And even if something does break there’s no water to flood through. Removing the water from your pipes also keeps them from freezing, another big cause of flood damage.
Just before you lock the door for your vacation, turn off the water at your home’s main water supply shut-off. Then flush the toilets and turn on a faucet in the lowest part of the house. Let the water run dry before you leave.
IF YOU NEED WATER RUNNING IN THE HOUSE, FOR PETS OR PLANTS, TURN OFF THE VALVES TO THE TOILETS, FAUCETS, WASHING MACHINE, AND REFRIGERATOR.
Maybe you never noticed, but all of these things have their own little shut-off valves. And while you’ll still have water in the big pipes in your house, these are much less likely to fail than a faucet or refrigerator line. Only leave the water on for the one faucet that will be used for your plants or pets.
CHECK FOR LEAKS
A few weeks before your trip scrutinize areas under sinks and around the water heater to make sure you don’t already have a leak somewhere. According to the American Water Works Association, a leak of 30 drips per minute totals up to nearly five gallons in a day. Imagine if you took five milk jugs right now and poured them out on your hardwood floor, then left that liquid for a week. Then someone came along tomorrow and added five more jugs to the pool. Trust me, this could be your reality. If you find a leak, get it fixed right away.
HAVE SOMEONE CHECK ON YOUR HOUSE
The monstrous damage our house sustained suggests the leak went unchecked for days. If someone had discovered the deluge sooner, we would’ve saved thousands of dollars in damage and blunted the heartbreak of blindly returning home to a disaster.
Whether you turn the water off or not, have a friend or neighbor go into your house every couple of days. Make sure they know where your main water shut off is located. And give them a local emergency contact in case something does go wrong.
HIRE A HOUSESITTER
If you want true piece of mind, find someone to stay in your house while you’re away. Not only will this defend against pressure build-up in your pipes, but if something breaks or leaks you will have a helpful person right there to respond. Ask friends and family for a recommendation or see if someone you know would be willing to housesit.
INVEST IN A WATER SENSOR SYSTEM
Increasingly, there are technological solutions to help prevent devastating water damage to your home. From water sensors that send an alarm when they get wet, to automatic shut-off systems that stop water flow; many options exist. In the next few months we will be investigating this topic – look for a future post with more in-depth analysis and advice.
KEEP YOUR STUFF IN PLASTIC STORAGE BINS
Even if everything goes wrong and your house fills up with water, you can still protect your possessions with plastic storage bins. We lost a lot of belongings in our flood, but my grandmother’s photos survived untouched. Even though they were directly under the breach, effectively at the bottom of a waterfall, inside their plastic storage bin was perfectly dry.
What was not in a plastic bin was my laptop and several other valuable electronics, and only my laptop survived (thanks to a heroic rescue from our local computer shop). If it’s small and can easily be stashed when you leave, put your laptop, tablets, and other sensitive gear in a safe or at least in plastic. This makes it harder for burglars to find too.
GET A SAFE
A safe is good policy even if you don’t have a flood. It can protect sensitive documents and electronics from water, fire, and theft. If you invest in a safe, get one big enough to hold your laptops and tablets. And don’t forget to stash everything in there before you go on vacation.
DOUBLE-CHECK YOUR INSURANCE COVERAGE
If it’s been awhile since you’ve reviewed your homeowner’s coverage limits, be sure you aren’t underinsured. With reconstruction costs often topping those from fire, water can damage everything from your furnace to wood floors to walls to the actual structure of your house. Make sure your policy will cover the full cost if you have a disaster.
4/26/2022 (Permalink)
Has your home or business fallen victim to water or fire damage? Our franchise is committed to offering quality restoration services to homes and businesses throughout Fairfax and Arlington County. We will work quickly to clean up your property, repair the damage, and get your building back in operational order. We offer 24/7 emergency services and outstanding personalized service to completely address all of your concerns.
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Floods and fires can take a toll on business owners, especially if you have to cut operations to clean up the mess. Instead of facing the problem alone, count on SERVPRO of McLean. Our team has extensive experience, advanced tools, and helpful resources available to quickly clean up damaged property and get your company operating in no time.
Our commercial services include:
Storm damage restoration
Water damage restoration
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We can also work directly with your insurance company to ensure that you receive the best services to assist you through the inconveniences that you are experiencing. You should never go through a disaster alone, and when you work with SERVPRO of McLean, you will not have to!
24/7 Emergency Service