Leak…..one of the most dreaded words of a home-owner. The worst part of leaks is that often times, most of the damage caused by a leak comes from the amount of time that goes by before a leak is discovered. If you catch a leak right away, you can fix the issue and use dehumidifiers and other means to quickly dry the area. This will often prevent ruining numerous materials and having to replace them. However, left undiscovered, a leak can quickly wreak havoc and cause damage to materials, cause mold, and cause a whole slue of problems.
I suggest checking for leaks quarterly and preferably during a big rainstorm. Following are some areas to check:
ROOF
Get up in your attic with a flashlight and look around. Check carefully at the ridge or peak of your roof as well as where there are any penetrations through your roof (vents, etc.). Even if it is not raining, if you have a leak, you will see water damage. Also check insulation, walk boards, etc. in your attic to make sure there is no dampness or water damage visible.
SKYLIGHTS/WINDOWS
If you have skylights, check the flashing and caulking during your roof maintenance (we have a blog all about roof maintenance – check it out here if you haven’t seen it). Make sure during a hard rain storm that there are no droplets collecting around the edge of your skylight(s) or below it. Get up on a ladder and check if it is too high to view.
APPLIANCES
Finally, you should be checking all your appliances which use water. Every quarter, or twice yearly at a minimum, pull out your dishwasher and washing machine and check behind them at their hose connections to make sure there are no leaks. Sometimes a leak isn’t your kitchen floor flooding, but a small leak every time your appliance is used which creates water damage over time which is invisible until it is too late. I would suggest checking your water heater monthly however, as these are often culprits for leaks. Your water heater should have a pan underneath it which is there to collect accidental leaks and overflows; if this pan is not dry, you have an issue and need to get your water heater checked out. If you don’t have a pan, you need to install one ASAP!
There you go….this is probably not the first thing that pops into your head when you hear home maintenance. However, catching small leaks before they become a much bigger issue can really save you some money and heartache down the road. If you catch them early, you may not have to replace nearly has much damaged material as you would if you don’t catch them until your ceiling is bubbling up or your kitchen or laundry room floors are flooded.
Xoxo,
Amanda
***Steel Toed Stilettos, LLC and its sole owner, Amanda Miller cannot be held responsible for your safety, your use of power tools, or outcome of any home improvement/DIY projects you choose to undertake and/or complete. Amanda Miller is not a licensed engineer and therefore all designs are what she has found to work for her personal use and neither she nor Steel Toed Stilettos LLC will be held responsible for any injury, illness, or other claims associated with her designs, plans, or projects.***
