Water Damage Prevention. Fall 2022 is here in Akron Ohio.
Learn the Risks of Water Damage and How to Manage This Wet Season
Fall is here, and oh, how lovely it can be for Northeastern Ohio. With the changing of leaves, and the cooler temperatures approaching, it’s not hard to understand why fall is one of the favorite seasons for residents of Akron, Tallmadge, Canton, and surrounding areas in Northeast Ohio. With these wonderful changes that come with the fall, stress and destruction from accumulated water or debris may not be far behind. Water can find its way through cracks and poorly sealed openings, quickly creating water damage in your space and ruining your personal belongings. Luckily for homeowners (or renters) in Summit County, Stark County, Portage County, and all of Northeast Ohio, Trident Restoration is just a phone call away, should the rain decide to claim your home. Trident Restoration has an extensive team of professionals who specialize in water removal, and water mitigation, and can treat and restore any water or mold damages that may occur from this wet season. Trident Restoration is always ready for the call, day or night our team of experts quickly respond to any emergency and pride ourselves on being the first to jump into action when anyone is in need after water damage.
To avoid any water damage to your home in the coming months, there are a number of precautions you can take to get ahead of the changing seasons. Cleaning out your gutters and doing general “fall cleanup” outside and around your home will guide you in the right direction. This could stave off a number of unwanted property water damages. Inspecting your house both inside and outside could also prevent the dreaded flood water from invading your home, which could in turn save you thousands of dollars in water damage or flood clean-up costs.
Fall Cleanup and Water Damage Prevention
Cleaning Gutters
Cleaning out your gutters a couple of times a year can be one of the most effective ways to put a stop to a very common culprit for wet basements. Buildup from natural debris and fallen leaves can lead to water overflow, which can lead to water damage in various locations in your home. The purpose of a gutter is to collect any falling water and transport it away from the most susceptible parts of your house; your foundation and basement. The basement and foundation of a house, or substructure, is the perfect environment for water accumulation and mold growth. After significant water damage, 24 to 48 hours is all it takes for the potential for mold to grow. When this happens, you might be able to clean and salvage some of your belongings on your own, but calling a water damage restoration team to tackle this project might be your best option if you want the problem to be fixed at its source. Trident Restoration will come out and inspect the property and assess the damage and will be able to provide the proper services for mold removal, water extraction, or any exterior property damage caused by the water. Trident Restoration will also repair all of the damages after the drying process is completed.
Drain and Disconnect Garden Hoses
Draining and disconnecting any garden hoses located outside to avoid multiple types of damage. One reason for doing this is to save your hose from cracking, tearing, or becoming stuck due to the constant swelling and shrinking during the winter months. Another reason for removing garden hoses is to prevent pipes from bursting. This is an issue that is “hidden” during the winter months. When a garden hose is still attached to the spigot outside, there is a small amount of water left behind. The water will expand and freeze, thus cracking your pipes. When spring comes along and you’re ready to do your gardening, you could be in for a rude awakening when you turn the hose on and find your basement flooded because of the cracked pipe. If your basement floods due to a burst pipe, you could do a couple of things on your own to remove the water, but if there is more than one to two inches of standing water, your best bet will be to call Trident Restoration so they can use industrial strength drying equipment to properly remove the water and dry out the space to prevent any further damage from occurring.
Indoor & Outdoor Inspections
Check Caulking
Checking the caulking around doors and windows is a commonly overlooked inspection. You’re going to want to focus on the interior and exterior of each opening, and if the caulking looks cracked or weak, you will want to replace it before it gets too cold. Any crack or gap in the caulking will allow for water or air to get in. Replacing the caulk is somewhat of a tedious task, but it’s very manageable when you have the right tools. To do this correctly, you’re going to want to remove the old caulk and replace it with new. If you don’t remove the old caulk, it will eventually start pulling away at the new layer on top, thus resulting in wasted effort.
Attic and Roof Vents
Your attic is responsible for insulating and protecting your home from the harsh climates outside. To ensure your house is safe from ruthless winter weather conditions, you should check that the insulation is in place and that the roof vents are unobstructed and working properly. The insulation keeps the warm air on the inside of your house from escaping into the attic, while the roof vents allow for cool air to move freely inside the space. When your insulation and air vents aren’t in good condition, an ice dam is possible. An ice dam is a build-up of ice on the exterior of the house that results from melted snow accumulating and refreezing, creating large, heavy, and dangerous icicles that hang off of the gutters. These icicles can cause a lot of damage to the exterior and interior of your home. Issues like sagging ceilings or soiled carpets are among the many problems that can arise. Make sure your insulation is where it needs to be in your attic, and that the roof vents aren’t blocked by anything, internally or externally. If you believe that you are experiencing water damage from an ice dam, give Trident Restoration a call so your space can be professionally inspected and treated using the highest quality equipment and practices in the area
