Preventing Water Damage To Your Home

Fall is one of the most scenic times of the year with the changing colors of the leaves and lowering temperatures. Fall is also a great time to inspect your home for potential problems that could lead to water damage inside your home.

To prevent any potential water damage to your home, here are some helpful tips:

Leaves and pine needles can block storm drains and often cause basement flooding. In Maryland, we have a variety of hardwood trees with large leaves as well as numerous types of pine trees, which shed their needles each year. Homeowners should clear their storm drains in the fall and reinspect during the winter. For window wells, the same principle applies, as they should be clear of leaves and debris. Window well covers are a great idea as well to prevent clogging.

Gutters can also get clogged with leaves and debris, and it is important to have your gutters cleaned every year to prevent any water from getting through the flashing and leaking into your home. There are services that will do this cleaning for you and give you peace of mind. Also, clear the area where the water from your downspout empties onto your lawn as you want the water to run away from your home. If the downspout area is clogged with leaves and debris, the water may run into your foundation and create water issues in your home.

Turn off your home’s indoor water spigots that lead to your outside water spigots before the cold weather begins. Cold weather can lead to pipes freezing inside your home. When you turn off your outside water spigots, make sure you let any water drain out of the spigot so that water won’t freeze.

Clean the area around your HVAC unit for leaves and debris as your HVAC unit needs to have outside air flow to make the unit run more efficiently. If it snows, always clear that area as well when you shovel your driveway and sidewalks.

Have someone inspect your roof for missing and/or damaged shingles as those could lead to leaks in your home as well. Many times after a strong storm, you may see shingles in your lawn and that is a sign that your roof may need to be repaired.

Check for water spots or stains around windows and doors. These may signal you need to re-caulk or replace those windows and doors before they become a water problem in your home.

SERVPRO of Annapolis/Severna Park takes pride in its community involvement and has been part of the Severna Park community for 40 years. If the team can help their neighbors with any type of fire, water and/or mold issue, don’t hesitate to call. SERVPRO also offers carpet cleaning and duct cleaning as well as restoration and reconstruction capabilities. It is also a 24/7 provider.

To contact SERVPRO’s main office in Arnold, please call 410-647-8181.