Home appliances are becoming more and more popular with each passing day as homeowners find ways to add convenience to their busy lives. This results in homeowners not having one but multiple appliances to help them with various tasks like dishwashing and cleaning clothes. But the problem is that sometimes home appliances may run into problems that could cause water damage. Instead of panicking, you should be aware of how to tackle this. It may include things like fixing the damage, considering mold removal, and learning how to prevent water damage in the future. Let’s break down all the potential reasons in detail for you to consider.
Analyze The Damage
If one of your kitchens has malfunctioned and caused water damage, you will need to investigate the matter in detail. A common mistake many people make when fixing water damage is not finding out the cause of the leakage.
For instance, if you have a malfunctioning dishwasher, you might think the machine might be clogged because a seal or gasket may be faulty too due to the unit being old. As a result, hours’ worth of effort and time are spent fixing only half the problem.
In addition to that, water damages are not something to be taken for granted. If you have other expensive electronics in the kitchen as well, you will need to make sure the water damage does not repeat. Water damage can also cause electrocution and slippages especially if you have kids and elderly in the house.
Therefore, you should not leave out any chances when it comes to diagnosing the potential reasons along with fixing the issues from within the roots.
Install Water And Leak Sensors
Installing water and leak sensors can help you avoid major water damage down the road. These systems are designed and programmed to detect water leakage anywhere in the house and will sound an alarm as soon as they sense something is wrong.
This way, you will be able to catch leakages, cracks, and appliance malfunctions before the situation gets worse. Fortunately, water leak sensors are not that expensive anymore. All you need to do is purchase and install the sensors that are prone to leakages and water damage.
Make sure to have a maintenance plan and clean the sensors frequently. Otherwise, they might malfunction as well causing all your hard-earned money to go to waste.
Check The Washing Machine
A washer is a frequently used appliance in the house. These machines help wash, clean, and dry dirty laundry within a few minutes. It does so by trapping the contaminants, dirt, dust, and debris with the filters installed inside.
Depending on the make, model, and variant, a washing machine might have one or more filters. With time, these filters tend to get clogged, which could cause leakage. Additionally, washing machines come with seals and gaskets that keep the water from leaking.
These seals and gaskets are made from plastic that will become cracked and damaged with time as well. This could also result in a leaking washing machine. That said, you should perform periodic inspections and maintenance to ensure the washing machine is not facing any issues.
Preventing such issues goes a long way in terms of keeping things running without many complications.
Check The Refrigerator
The refrigerator in your kitchen won’t turn off until something troubles it. Although refrigerators tend to keep food items fresh, most homeowners are not aware of the fact that refrigerators are influenced by external factors as well such as humidity.
As the refrigerator freezes and helps store the food items, the defrost drain might get clogged as well when it produces too much ice and needs to defrost. The ice turning into small chunks or draining in the form of water through the drain pipe may also block it. Plus, if there is debris or food particles in the drain, the water won’t drain properly.
In addition to that, limescale buildup can also clog the exit points causing the water to find other escape routes. If your refrigerator has an ice maker as well, you will need to check its connections.
If the connections happen to be loose, there is a huge of risk of water leakage that can lead to water damage. The best way to prevent this is to ensure professional maintenance every now and then. Constant water leakage lead to water damage and also mold growth. So, you should hire a mold remediation Silver Spring expert who can fix the water damage and also remove mold.
Check The Air Conditioner
You might have multiple air conditioners or an HVAC system installed in the house. Air conditioners while keeping the interior cool and comfortable tend to produce water as a byproduct. This water exits through the drain line. But, if for some reason the drain line happens to be choked, the water will back up and leak from areas you didn’t expect.
When it comes to maintenance, air conditioners follow the same principles as the other refrigeration appliances. You will need to check and make sure the filters and drain lines are clean. It could also be that the unit was not installed properly.
If the indoor unit is leaning to one side, it can also cause water leakage. You will need to find the root cause of the problem, which will take a bit of time and effort.
Moreover, if the air ducts are damaged or not maintained, there may be mold growth there. So, ensure air duct cleaning as well.
What To Do In Case Of Water Leakage Or Damage?
Water leakages could take place due to a variety of reasons but you should know how to deal with them even before the situation comes up. Sometimes, water leakages start minor and turn into bigger ones until you notice them but till then, the damage has been done.
If you find pools of water somewhere in the house, you will need to cordon off the area to prevent water from traveling to further areas of the house. Once that is done, you will need to dry the water and make sure there is no fungus or mold that could cause breathing issues.
If there is, you will need to invest in some safety equipment and special chemicals to help remove them. You can also hire an expert.
When To Schedule Professional Maintenance?
Professional maintenance is not meant to be scheduled when a problem has popped up. It is a way to prevent such issues from taking place. This is why you should schedule professional maintenance at least once or twice a week to ensure everything works smoothly.
You might think of it as an expense but in reality, it is an investment. Spending a bit of money will help save a lot of expenses in the future.
Conclusion
The information mentioned above will surely help you manage the situation while you work on the problem or wait for a water damage restoration Potomac team to show up. But one thing remains the same and that is regular inspections and maintenance that will keep problems at bay.
