What You Need To Know About Water Damage And What Your Plumber Can Do About It | Universal City, TX
The last thing homeowners want is a plumbing leak that might cost them a fortune in repairs. While some of them are accidental and sudden, there are plumbing emergencies that can be avoided. In this article, we’ll talk about what to do during a plumbing emergency, homeowners insurance, and how to prevent water damage. If you have questions, contact a plumber in Universal City, TX.
What to Do During a Plumbing Emergency:
Do Not Panic
Leaks can cause catastrophic damage to your home and may cost you a fortune in repairs and replacements. When your pipes burst or the washing machine hose suddenly breaks, the first thing to do is not to panic. As a homeowner, it’s crucial to know the location of the shut-off valves because the next thing to do is turn off your water.
We suggest installing several shut-off valves and placing them near your washing machine, water heater, and dishwasher. You can prevent further damage to your home by turning them off. Inform all of your family members where they are located and teach them how to turn off your water, just in case you will not be home. If you need help in installing shut-off valves, please don’t hesitate to contact a plumber.
Call a Plumbing Professional
After turning off the water and electricity, call a reliable plumber in your area to help you resolve the problem. Don’t forget to clean up after — remember, mold can form within 24 hours so make sure that your home is completely dry.
In choosing a plumber, we suggest hiring a licensed professional only as they are fully equipped. They will know what to do during a plumbing emergency. Plumbers have all the tools and equipment needed to properly carry out the task. If the pipes burst or the water heater leaks, our plumbers can thoroughly inspect your units and determine if it’s best to repair them or completely buy a new unit.
Do not attempt to do repairs on your own for you might only do further damage. Work with professionals only to ensure that the job is completed. Our plumbers at bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of San Antonio are highly experienced and skilled to tackle any plumbing issue. Do not hesitate to get in touch with us anytime. Our team is more than happy to help.
Contact Your Homeowners Insurance
Before calling a plumber and cleaning up, make sure to take pictures of your damaged home. You may need this as proof when you file a water damage claim.
Also, make sure you understand what’s covered in your home insurance policy. Some types of water damage may not
Always Prioritize Safety First
When you turn off the power, make sure that you are not in a wet area as that will be dangerous. Also, wear protective gear when turning off the electricity. Keep your children away from the water — if possible take them outside or upstairs.
If it’s in the basement, don’t attempt to turn it off. Instead, call an electrician or a plumber in Universal City, TX, for assistance. These professionals will know what to do during a plumbing emergency.
Repair the Damage
Get in touch with a professional to help you check for mold. The latter is an issue not to be taken likely because they can damage your home and also pose health risks.
If the basement floods and appliances are stored there, the water damage may cost you more. You will have to buy replacements for those appliances and hire a professional in Universal City, TX, to completely dry the basement.
You can prevent plumbing emergencies with proper maintenance and by hiring a plumber for a routine plumbing inspection.
When to Schedule a Plumbing Inspection
It’s recommended to hire a licensed plumber for a plumbing inspection every two years. You may need to get more than one plumbing inspection in two years, especially when there are trees near your property.
Tree roots are attracted to moisture. When there is a little crack or leak in your plumbing, these roots can penetrate the pipes and cause an even bigger problem. You can avoid a catastrophic plumbing emergency by calling a plumber in Universal City, TX, for a routine inspection.
During the inspection, a professional would thoroughly check your entire plumbing for any issues that may progress into a bigger problem. He will have a checklist to ensure that everything is inspected. They usually check the toilet, water heater, pipes, drain lines, plumbing fixtures and appliances.
When a problem comes up during the inspection, our plumbers will do everything to resolve the issue on the same day. Don’t worry, our plumbing truck is fully equipped to help us prepare for the worse. There is no need to schedule another appointment if you need repairs during the appointment.
Our goal is to ensure that your entire plumbing system is in excellent shape. We won’t leave your home unless we are certain that your plumbing is good to go. When was the last time you had a plumbing inspection? If it has been a while, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
Never Ignore Plumbing Issues
In addition to hiring a plumber in Universal City, TX, for a routine inspection, it’s also your responsibility to take care of your plumbing. If you suspect something is off with your plumbing or your toilet just doesn’t stop running, don’t neglect it. Get it inspected to avoid a more costly repair down the road or paying for higher water bills the following month.
When buying new appliances and fixtures, we recommend working with a licensed plumber only to ensure the units are correctly installed. Problems can also arise when your appliances are not properly installed — it can lead to inefficiency issues or leaks. While the manufacturers provide installation instructions, we suggest calling a plumber instead. Unless you have plumbing experience, don’t install anything on your own.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Water Damage?
Homeowners insurance may cover your water damage especially when it’s accidental and sudden. Two types of homeowners insurance policy can cover water damage: dwelling coverage and personal property coverage.
Dwelling coverage can help pay for damages to the structure of your house. For example, the pipes burst and damaged your ceiling or wall. Your insurance may help cover the repairs.
Personal property damage pays for your belongings if they are also damaged. They may help you pay for repairs or replacement.
What the homeowners’ insurance doesn’t cover is damage resulting from poor maintenance. Below are types of water damage that the homeowners’ insurance will not cover:
Damages From Unresolved Issues With Maintenance
Your homeowners’ insurance may cover damages to your floor or ceiling, but if this resulted from neglect or failure to remedy a maintenance problem, it’s not going to be covered. This is the reason why we recommend that homeowners hire professionals for routine plumbing inspections.
If you want to save money on repairs and restorations, never neglect plumbing maintenance. However, while professional inspections can avoid costly repair, it’s still important that homeowners properly care for their plumbing. Install strainers to your bathroom or kitchen sink to prevent clogs or flush out the sediment buildup in your water heater tank to avoid leaks.
Water Backup from Drains or Sewer
Water backups are usually not covered by your homeowners’ insurance. Common causes of a sewer backup include clogged or damaged sewer pipes, main sewer blockage, heavy rainfall, and tree roots. Get an inspection to help you identify the cause of the backup and contact a plumber in Universal City, TX, to help you remedy the problem.
Repairing or Replacing the Source of the Damage
When the water heater leaks, your homeowners’ insurance can cover the damaged floor. However, you will not get coverage for the source of the damage. The insurance company will not replace your water heater.
You can prevent water heater problems with proper maintenance. Insulate the water heater tank and the pipes when the temperature is freezing. The pipes can expand and burst when not protected. Homeowners must also remove the mineral buildup in the tank as that would eventually lead to more problems. It will also affect the efficiency of your water heater.
Flooding
Flooding from over-saturated grounds isn’t covered with homeowners insurance. Install a sump pump if you have a basement to prevent flooding.
How to Protect Your Home from Water Damage
Below are some tips to help you protect your home from costly water damage:
- Drain the water heater to prevent sediment buildup. Do this at least once or twice a year, depending on the level of hard water in your plumbing. If there is a high concentration of hard water, we recommend draining your water heater twice a year. Get help from a professional if you don’t know how to do this. Another way to avoid flooding in the basement is by switching to a tankless water heater. You can mount the tankless water heater on your bathroom wall, eliminating the need to buy a huge water heater tank. It lasts longer than the tank-type version and it’s also more energy-efficient.
- Install leak detectors near your washing machine, water heater, and dishwasher. Choose a leak detection device that can alert you by phone or email, and automatically shuts off your water, even when you’re not at home. Some models can even detect water fluctuations. If you’re thinking of getting one, get in touch with one of our professionals to help you decide which model to purchase for your home.
- Inspect your washing machine hoses especially when you have the rubber hoses installed. They are more susceptible to damage compared to the stainless steel version. If your washing machine hoses are several years old, consider replacing them with sturdy ones to reduce the risk of flooding in your basement or laundry room.
- Check your roof for necessary repairs or replacement. Also, make sure to clean your roof gutters. Otherwise, they can overflow and water may pool near your home’s foundation.
- Protect your pipes with an insulating material so they don’t expand and burst. If you’re at home, slightly open your faucets for warm water to flow through the pipes. Open the cabinet doors too so that warm air can circulate in that area.
- Watch for high water pressure as it can severely strain your pipes. The plumbing pipes can leak eventually if you don’t regulate your home’s water pressure. Buy a water pressure regulator to help you correct the problem or contact a professional if you still need assistance.
Monitor Your Water Bill
An indication of a water leak is when your water bills have suddenly skyrocketed. Investigate immediately to avoid more problems. Check for any signs of obvious and hidden leaks in the bathroom, kitchen or basement. Better yet, get a professional leak detection. Our plumbers have the right tools and equipment to help us determine the exact location of the leak.
Contact bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of San Antonio
Do you need a plumber in Universal City, TX today? We can help! Our team is equipped with
the right experience, training and tools to help us properly carry out the job. Whether you need help installing a new water heater or leak detection systems, we can help.
bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of San Antonio is a reliable plumbing company committed to providing top-notch services in the area. Our goal is to ensure all our customers are satisfied with our services. We can help with any plumbing repairs, installations and maintenance. Please call us today for an appointment.
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