What Are the Most Common Causes of Water Damage?

Water damage may not sound as terrifying as, say, fire damage, but in reality, it’s just as bad, maybe even worse.

In cases of fire, the flames have to be big and intense enough to inflict serious damage. Water in places where they shouldn’t be, on the other hand, only has to be an inch or so deep to cause damage that will cost us thousands of dollars in repairs.

So if you don’t worry much about water damage, better change that mindset now. Water damage is a lot of trouble, and it can get worse real fast if you don’t make an effort to get water damage restoration services right away.

If you drag your heels before doing anything about all the water inundating certain parts of your home, you might as well say goodbye to your furniture and appliances caught in the flood. You can also expect mold formation, what with all the moisture inside your property. Vermin also love the damp, so don’t be surprised if your property suddenly becomes a refuge for rats, termites, cockroaches, and the like. Worst of all, water damage threatens the foundation of your property.

Thankfully, water damage is preventable in most cases. Knowing what causes water damage is an essential first step toward protecting your property from it.

Severe weather may be one of the major causes of water damage, but in most cases, it’s caused by things happening inside your home or business. Here are some of the most common causes of water damage.

Plumbing Issues

Water leaks happen when you have loose or broken pipes inside your property. What makes things worse is that these plumbing issues tend to go undetected for some time, especially when the leaking pipes are inside walls. By the time we discover it, signs of water damage like mold formation have already taken hold.

Blocked Rain Gutters

Rain gutters exist to channel rainwater away from your home. However, leaves and all sorts of debris tend to accumulate there over time and block the flow of rainwater. Clogged gutters will naturally overflow every single time it rains, with the water dripping down the sides of your property. Water damage will likely hit your ceiling and walls because of this. Worse, all that water can reach your structure’s foundations and weaken it.

Washing Machines

Washing machines with PVC or rubber water supply lines tend to leak because of constant water pressure. Since PVC or rubber water supply lines wear out more easily, it’s best to replace it with a braided stainless steel water supply line.

Clogged Drains and Toilets

When grease, hair, and various foreign objects accumulate inside your drains and toilets, it would only be a matter of time before water flows back up and causes damage inside your home. Clogged drains and toilets are the worst causes of water damage in the sense that the water they spew backup is filled with contaminants that can make you sick.

AC Units

Air conditioning units produce condensation, which eventually exits the AC through a condensate drain line or tube, that is if they’re operating normally. Any problems with the drain line or tube, however, will cause condensation to go straight out your air conditioning unit right into the wall or floor of your building.

Malfunctioning Sprinkler Systems

Sprinkler systems are handy during a fire but can be quite troublesome when they set off without any reason. Sprinklers that suddenly go off can damage furniture, appliances, carpets, and other belongings.

Leaking Water Heater

There is no doubt about the convenience that having a water heater brings. However, when your water has been in use for years, the water tank becomes prone to leaks. The same is also true of newer but improperly-installed water heaters. Most water heater leaks are caused by high water pressure, rusty, corroded, or cracked tanks, and loose drain valves.

Preventing water damage due to flooding caused by severe weather may be a little challenging, especially if you live in a flood-prone area, but as mentioned above, we can prevent water damage caused by things that occur within our property.

We can install drain screens, maintain our AC units regularly, and clean our rain gutters from time to time to protect our home or business from water damage.

About the Author: Rachel Anderson is the Content Marketing Strategist of Arizona Fire & Water Restoration, Inc., a Phoenix-based company that provides water, fire and smoke damage restoration as well as mold remediation and removal services. When not writing, she plays bowling and goes on trail hikes with her friends.

Photo by Vladislav Nikonov on Unsplash