|
Protect Your Home from Water Damage
Water damage - whether caused by leaks
or condensation - can do more than cause unsightly stains
in your home. It can cause permanent structural damage to
the home and erode its strength.
As a general rule, water damage from
poor or infrequent maintenance, neglect or general deterioration
isn't covered by your insurance. But proper home maintenance
can help you prevent messy and costly damage to your home.
Start
with the roof
Your roof is "out of sight and
out of mind" - so it's easy to forget - until you have
unsightly water damage from a leak. Defend your home by stopping
that leak before it starts. Corrosion or deterioration of
your roof, wind or hail damage or improper installation of
vents, flues, chimneys, air conditioners, evaporative coolers
or condensers can all result in roof leaks.
Regular inspections and maintenance
can prevent problems before they begin. Inspect your roof
for punctures, cracks or breaks. Clean any you find and apply
a compatible patching compound or sealant. Each year, clean
and inspect rain gutters, downspouts and extensions for leaks
or holes. All types of manufactured home roofs should be checked
once a year - whether shingled, metal, vinyl or fiberglass.
To avoid damage to the seals and seams
of your roof, keep your weight directly on the rafters. If
you have a bowstring or low-pitch rafter, place a plywood
sheet across the rafter so you can distribute your weight
evenly. While on the roof remove dirt, leaves, branches and
any other debris on your roof or gutter - especially any item
that may cause a roof puncture.
Seal metal roofs with a good commercial
manufactured home roof coating at least every other year -
more often in some climates. Apply roof coating around all
vents and seams and use coating along the drip edge of the
roof. Make sure to cover all exposed screw heads, fasteners
and other areas susceptible to leaking. Don't forget to inspect
and seal the roof around vents and chimneys. Look for and
repair loose, damaged or missing shingles, missing or damaged
vent caps, raised nail heads and anything else that's in disrepair
or could cause damage.
Outside
walls, doors and windows
Inspect outside walls, doors and windows
each spring and fall for unusual wear or tear. Water and moisture
can penetrate these common areas if they're not maintained
regularly. Repair or replace caulk, weather stripping, glazing,
window seals, door seals or any other exterior area damaged
by use, abuse or normal weathering. Examine your exterior
siding and replace any missing or damaged fasteners or screws.
Repair or replace punctured siding.
Remember to look under your home for
sagging, torn or water-spotted bottom barrier. This can indicate
poor or damaged insulation, which may cause water lines to
freeze and break. These symptoms also can indicate an existing
leak.
Check your home's pneumatic storm door
closer and safety chain. If these are loose or not working
properly the storm door may blow open. That lets water in
and can cause additional damage. Inspect exterior doors, especially
wooden ones, for wear and tear and cracking.
Also check weather stripping and seals
as well as the sill and the threshold for signs of leaking
or other damage. Inspect the putty or caulking around metal
windows. Clean and remove cracked or dried-out material and
replace it with an upgraded sealant or caulk.
Eliminate
excess moisture
Today's well-built, well-insulated homes
can trap excess moisture and condensation inside, especially
if you have inadequate ventilation. This unwanted moisture
shows up as: musty odors, rusty stains around light fixtures,
damp, sticky floors, mildew along the ceiling, wall and baseboard
edges, dripping pipes, condensation on windows and cold surfaces,
and mold and mildew growth.
Good preventive maintenance can help
eliminate many moisture problems. Keep inside air circulating
with vents and fans to avoid condensation. Use exhaust fans
in the bathroom when showering. It's a good idea to have an
exhaust fan installed in your laundry area and use it when
doing laundry. Also, make sure your dryer is vented to the
outside.
Fix leaky faucets and dripping toilets.
In cold climates, water flowing down the drain under the home
may freeze, causing water to back up through the drain lines
and into your home. Invest in a good portable dehumidifier
with a humidity control. Choose one that shuts off automatically
when the collector pan is full.
Use storm windows to help conserve energy
and keep condensation from forming on windows. An added benefit
- they help reduce heat loss.
Be sure the skirting around the base
of your home is well ventilated and allows air to circulate
freely, to help eliminate unwanted moisture being drawn into
the sub-flooring of your manufactured home.
Inside
your home
Obviously a dripping pipe can cause
water damage inside your home. To find problems before they
cause damage here are some tips: Listen for any unusual hissing
sounds. This can be a pinhole leak in a water line within
the floor or wall. Periodically check hard-to-reach, seldom
seen spaces around the water heater, under sinks and behind
clothes washers. Check the ice maker lines and filters for
your refrigerator, too.
Look for discolored floor coverings
or sub floors - usually a sign of a leak. Water stains and
wetness are often caused by loose or damaged plumbing fixtures
or fittings. Moisture at the base of a toilet may indicate
a deteriorated wax ring, which is easily replaced. If you
discover interior water damage correct the problem immediately.
If you can't make the repair yourself, hire a qualified repair
person.
If your water supply has over 80 pounds
of pressure, consider having your repair person install a
pressure regulator to help avoid high water pressures that
may cause a line rupture or leak.
Emergency
tips
If you discover a build-up of water
on the floor, find standing water in your home or experience
severe, sudden and accidental water damage, take steps to
begin ventilating and drying out your home immediately.
Here are some precautions to start with
until help arrives:
- Shut off the water source, if possible.
- Protect your property from further
damage with temporary, reasonable and necessary repairs,
like plywood or plastic covers over roof or wall openings.
- Move household items to an undamaged
area of your home or cover them with plastic. Mop, blot
up or wet vac as much water as possible.
- Don't leave books, magazines or other
colored items on wet carpeting. Remove oriental or other
colored throw rugs from wet wall-to-wall carpeting. Remove
the pad from under saturated carpets Place wood blocks or
aluminum foil between furniture legs and wet carpeting.
- Wipe excess water from wood furniture.
Open drawers and cabinets to aid in faster drying. Open
windows to speed drying.
- Turn on the air conditioner or fans
for maximum drying in hot weather, as long as it's safe
for you to use electricity.
- Make small holes in sagging ceilings
to get rid of trapped water. Be sure to put a pan or bucket
below to catch the water before you make a hole. And don't
turn on a ceiling fixture if the ceiling is wet - don't
mix water and electricity!
- Remove any insulation that is wet
and have it replaced with new, dry insulation.
- Treat minor mold growths quickly
with a solution of one cup chlorine bleach to one gallon
of water. Leave this solution on the mold for approximately
15 minutes to kill the mold spores. Be sure to take proper
precautions when using chlorine bleach.
After you've made temporary repairs
and are ready to start putting your home back together, be
sure to:
- Make sure that flooring and carpets
are dry before starting any repairs or making replacements.
- Hire a professional to clean and
re-lay your carpet after the carpet pad has been replaced.
- If you discover mold in the areas
you are cleaning, consider calling in a professional cleaning
firm. Some molds can cause health problems.
Clean-up
cautions
Stay safe while you clean up. Don't
use your household vacuum to remove water. Don't use
appliances while standing on wet carpets or floors. Don't
leave wet fabrics in place. Dry them quickly. Prop up wet
upholstered cushions for even drying.
|
