How to Prevent Water Damage in Your Home

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No one expects things to go wrong with their property. No one’s waiting for the day that something goes wrong. For that reason, it’s completely understandable to that people don’t always put the most secure, preventative solutions in place to make their properties as safe as possible.

That line of thinking is why so many people end up with water damage in their home. The adverse weather and regular usage will cause wear and tear over time. It’s up to homeowners to take responsibility to prevent any issues long before they pose any risks. Freak occurrences like the Beast from the East in March shows just how unpredictable the weather can be and why you need to ensure you’re not caught out.

James Collins from Deacon Insurance – specialists insurers in this field – commented on how common property water damage is, stating: “In 2017* claims for escape of water were consistently the most expensive claim for the domestic property insurance market.”

Comparing the first 9 months of 2017 to the same period in 2014, domestic water escape claims were up by 24%. In money terms, this was a massive leap from £529m to £654m. Industry-wide, escape of water claims is seen as a priority area to reduce. By repeatedly making claims for the same issue, premiums will increase and everyone loses out.

Homeowners have the ability to drastically reduce the likelihood of having issues by addressing the following:

Bath/shower

Let’s start with an area of the house that is designed to be wet – the bathroom. The two things you need to look at are the grouting around the bath or shower and the mastic seals surrounding any tiling. Gaps or cracks can allow water to easily seep through and cause damage elsewhere in the property.

Toilet

If you’re ever worried that the toilet isn’t flushing as it should or that it’s making unusual sounds, it’s time to take action. Seek out advice from a professional before there’s a risk of any blockages and subsequent overflow.

Kitchen

As with the bathroom, mastic seals may need to be inspected and (if necessary) resealed, to stop any liquid from escaping the worktop and into any nearby cupboards and the flooring. The most important places to check are wherever water is used, so around the kettle, sink and elsewhere.

Appliances

We often only check our washing machines when we replace them or when something goes wrong. Take action beforehand with both these and dishwashers, and any other white goods that have the potential to leak water.

Radiators

If there’s any trace of wear and tear (other than to just the paintwork) it’s essential that you address it. Rusting or corrosion is to be avoided at all costs.

Stopcock

Finally, simply being aware of where your stopcock is means you’re far less likely to have issues with water leakage. Being able to cut off the water supply to the home quickly can mean the difference between a minor issue (that you may be able to fix yourself) or something that may result in an insurance claim.

Check that you can actually twist it, that there isn’t any rusting and that it’s easy to access when you need to.