Protect Your Property While You're Away: Vacation Preparedness Tips

10/17/2018 (Permalink)

Air scrubber on a water damage due to broken pipe in a Dover,NJ home

According to a study of insurance claims, the second most common type of homeowners' insurance claim is due to water damage in the home. Leaking pipes, burst supply lines, storm damage and freezing conditions cause millions of dollars' worth of damage each year. If a pipe freezes and bursts or even just slowly leaks while you're away, a simple water pipe repair won't fix the damage. The damage will be so extensive as to require remediation efforts by your local Dover,NJ, water damage remediation team. That said, there are steps you can take to prevent such damage while you're away on vacation:

• Check for leaks before you leave.
• Repair a broken pipe if you locate one.
• Clear your rain gutters and downspouts.
• Make sure there aren't any kinks or leaks in the hoses connecting major appliances to the water source.
• Make sure your sump pump is working to prevent a flooded basement or ground floor.
• Insulate pipes to prevent them from freezing.
• Turn off the water main to prevent water flow through your pipes, and therefore to prevent freezing.

If you take these steps before leaving for a holiday, your pipes should remain intact.

What To Do When the Pipes Burst

If your pipes do end up bursting or water damage does happen, shut off the main valve right away and perform a quick water pipe repair. If the damage is extensive, contact your water remediation team to assess the extent of it and see what needs to be done to get your home to like new condition. If you're lucky, the secondary damage isn't too bad, and a minor repair and dry-out efforts will suffice. However, if the water was allowed to sit, you may be dealing with more extensive damage, such as mold damage, rot or worse.

Simple measures such as a water pipe prepare and wrapping your pipes may be all you need to do to prevent water damage while you're away on vacation. However, if damage does happen, contact a water remediation team right away for swift cleanup assistance.