How to Protect Your Home From Water Damage

Water damage can quickly be one of the most devastating types of damage your home can experience. From leaks in the roof, overflowing toilets, and burst pipes, to flood waters rushing in, water can cause substantial harm to your home, belongings, and family in the briefest amount of time. According to National Flood Services, one inch of flooding can result in $25,000 in damages. There are several inexpensive ways in which you can protect your home from water damage; we will start with some tips on steps you can take to directly safeguard your home and then discuss the two types of insurance needed to protect your home and belongings financially. 

Six Steps to Protect a Home

Inspections

One of the best ways to easily prevent water damage is by inspecting your home for leaks twice a year. Check all ceilings, walls, and floors for water spots. Inspect any exposed pipes for signs of corrosion or leaks, and then inspect the roof for any damage, including holes or missing tiles/shingles and algae or mold. If anything is found, it is essential to address it quickly to prevent further damage, which can be costly.

Sump Pumps

A sump pump can be a lifesaver if you reside in areas prone to heavy rains or flooding. Sump pumps are designed to prevent significant water damage to your basement, which is one of the most common areas of a home to experience water damage. Sump pumps are installed in a basement area called a sump pit; this is where water is designed to accumulate, and the sump pump removes it before it becomes a threat.

Clear Gutters and Downspouts

Water can back up and enter your home causing damage if gutters or downspouts are blocked. Additionally, if downspouts are not properly moving water away from your home due to leaks, improper installation, or broken connections water can accumulate near your home causing damage to walls and the foundation. It’s essential to regularly (spring and fall) clean out and inspect your gutters and downspouts to ensure that they are working as desired.

Water Alarms

A water alarm is a device that sounds an alarm when it detects the presence of water. A water alarm can give you an early warning in case of a leak in your home, allowing you to take action before the damage becomes too extensive. Water alarms will generally be placed in areas where water damage is most likely to occur, such as near your water heater or washing machine. 

Turn Off the Water Main When Going on Vacation

If you will be away from your home for an extended time, it is recommended to turn off your main water supply for the duration of your absence. Doing so can help prevent water damage if a pipe bursts while you are away. A home that is unheated is more likely to have pipes freeze; bleeding the pipes (letting water out after the main is turned off) can also reduce their chance of bursting due to freezing. The Red Cross recommends that if you are going to be away from a home during cold weather, the thermostat should be set at 55 degrees to prevent pipes from freezing.

Insulate Pipes

Pipes in attics, garages, and other unheated areas are susceptible to freezing and bursting. Insulating these pipes using pipe sleeves can help prevent this from happening and protect your home from water damage. In severe situations, heat tape and heat cable can be used to warm exposed pipes, so they don’t freeze.

Insurance

The second line of defense against to fight water damage is through the use of insurance; while it won’t prevent water damage, it will provide financial protection in case of water damage due to flooding or another cause in the home. Damage from water is covered under two types of policies, homeowners and flood insurance.

Homeowners (and renters) insurance

Homeowners and renters insurance can be crucial tools for protecting your home and its contents from water damage. Most standard homeowners insurance policies will cover water damage caused by sudden and accidental events, including burst pipes, roof leaks, overflowing toilets, and in some cases, instances of backed-up sewers. However, it’s imperative that you understand what your policy covers and what it doesn’t. Damage due to flooding is typically not covered under a standard homeowners insurance policy and therefore requires a separate flood insurance policy to protect you. Before any water damage event occurs, it’s a good idea for you to review your homeowner’s insurance policy and understand what it will cover. 

Additionally, depending on your needs, you may want to consider purchasing additional coverage, such as a water backup endorsement, to ensure that your home is fully protected against water damage. By having the right insurance coverage in place, you can ensure peace of mind knowing that you’re protected against the financial losses that can result from water damage to your home.

Flood Insurance

Though homeowners and renters insurance covers many types of water damage protecting your home and belongings, you should also consider purchasing flood insurance if you live in a flood prone area. According to the US National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and FEMA, the best way to protect your home and belongings in case of a flood, is to purchase flood insurance.

Flood Mitigation

There are several mitigation steps that you can take to reduce the damage that is caused by flooding. Taking flood mitigation steps can also reduce your costs for flood insurance and some steps prevent damage from happening in the first place. While significant mitigation steps can be costly, they can be eclipsed by the damage that a single flood can do, and the same property can still be at risk from the damage of future floods.  

Several mitigation types can lower a property’s premiums for flood insurance when properly executed.

• Property relocation- moving a structure outside the flood area to higher ground
• Basement infill- defined as filling any area of a building with its floor below base flood elevation on all sides
• Abandonment of the lowest floor- of a structure so that the entire home is on the second story with minimal to no living areas on the first story.
• Elevating the lowest floor- or also elevating all building equipment and utility systems and/or protecting them from flooding in their current location.
• Wet floodproofing (using flood openings)- creating openings that allow flood water to flow in and out of unoccupied areas, lowering the risk of structural damage. The unoccupied areas of the home must also be made flood resistant.
• Dry floodproofing- sealing a structure, preventing water from entering

FEMA will make an individual determination on discount eligibility for other mitigation steps. 

Community mitigation

In some instances, whole communities can be eligible for federal flood risk mitigation grants. These grants can be of benefit to the home and business owners in the floodplain. As a homeowner, you may want to encourage your local officials to apply for such grants. 

Summary and Final Thoughts

While water can cause severe damage to your home and belongings, there are many steps you can take to protect yourself. Regularly inspecting your home and taking preventative measures, including the installation of sump pumps and water alarms, as well as efforts to prevent bursting pipes, is your first step. Purchasing homeowners and flood insurance, especially if you live in a flood-prone area, is the second step you can take to prevent significant financial burdens. Flood insurance costs can be reduced through personal and community mitigation efforts, which may be costly but, in the long run, may bring peace of mind and prevent further outlays and headaches from ever happening.