Staying Dry During a Wet Season
In the last 4 years water claims in Central Illinois have been on the rise. You don’t have to have a basement to experience the pain of having an unexpected water claim From backed up drains to burst pipes, from crawl spaces to poured concrete slabs any home can fall victim to water damage.
As we enter into the wet season for Central Illinois we wanted to share some advice on how to prevent you from the headache of life after water damage strikes.
5 ways to prevent water damage to your home:
- Sump Pump: Homeowners should install a backup system with their sump pump because it will enable the pump to function during power outages. In addition, sump pumps should be tested on a monthly basis to make sure they’re in working order.
- Sewer Drains: Homeowners should snake out their sewer drains on an annual basis.
- Air conditioner: A/C units should be inspected and maintained annually. This prevents the pan drain line from clogging up causing overflow.
- Supply Lines: Property owners should check supply lines for corrosion once a year (to sink, toilet, refrigerator, ice maker, dishwasher, and washing machines), and replace if found.
- Roofing: Bubbling of paint or water stains on the ceilings drywall is an indication of a roof leaf and should be addressed by a licensed and insured contractor immediately.If there is water in your basement, you’re probably familiar with what you should do (eliminate the source of water, remove electric devices, as well as all other items that could be further damaged, etc) but here are the 4 do NOT’s:
DO NOT
- Use your home vacuum since electrical shock may result as well as damage to the equipment itself
- Place newspaper on wet surfaces since ink transfers easily
- Walk on wet surfaces any more than necessary in order to minimize safety hazards, as well as enter an area with standing water because of potential electrical shock
- Activate the HVAC system if it has been directly contacted by water, or adjust indoor temps unless instructed by qualified restoration technician
Making sure that you are insured properly for water damage to your home requires a multiple-step approach. It starts with your base policy but also includes endorsements like Bask Up Sewer and Drain Coverage and Flood Insurance. We want to educate you on what you need to have in place before it is too late, call or text us 217-441-BFIA (2342) or click below: