Weather is rough on Michigan property owners

Winters freezing temperature may take their toll on your piping. Sub-zero temperature can cause pipes to crack or even burst leaving your home damaged with water. Winter isn’t the only thing trying to harm your home. Improperly sealed bathtubs and washing machines can also cause water damage. Hoses could be damaged creating leaks and improperly sealed bathtubs could leak into basements. Heavy rains, clogged pipes, or even sump pump failure can result in nasty sewage water in your basement. Waste water should not be handled on your own. Having a water removal company extract the water is the safest choice. Sewage water can contain bacteria such as e.coli and hepatitis a. Pipes aren’t the only source of leaks. Having poor roofing could result in water in your bedrooms and living rooms. Furniture, tables, and other personal belongings could be damaged. Cracks in the homes foundation can also lead to water damage. If you happen to live near a lake or river your home could be at a higher risk of flooding. Ground water can seep through to your basement. This is why it’s important to have flood insurance. Regular home insurance doesn’t include floods, but flood insurance can be purchased if you community participates in the National Flood Insurance Program.


Having water in your home to long could reduce the success of having personal belongings restored. Stop excessive water from piping by shutting of the homes main water valve. Depending on how much water there is you might consider calling a professional water removal company. Cleaning standing water can help reduce the risk of mold growing, but to be safe contact a specialist to determine walls and ceilings are clean too. Next, if accessible without harming yourself or others turn off the electricity. Open windows and use fans to speed up the drying process. Clean water up with mops, towels, and sponges. Use strong disinfectants such as water and bleach on walls and floors to remove mold or fungus. Make sure to wear protective gear such as rubber glove, boots, and a face mask. If salvable take furniture outside garage, or somewhere dry. You can clean these off with water and bleach, but test it first to insure that it doesn’t harm the furniture. Water damage repair can be very costly so it’s important to contact your insurance company. Your policy could help in repairs.

Making sure you home is protected against the elements can make all the difference. Regularly check piping to determine that water is flowing freely. You can test the water main system by turning off the main water valve. If there is activity on the meter during this time and no water is being used there could be a leak. You can help reduce the chance of leakage by caulking around sinks and in bathtubs where tiles meet at their edges. Slow drainage in sinks or showers is an indication of blockage and can cause pipes to burst. You can buy drainage products to help break up blockage or if this doesn’t work contact a plumber. For the basement a great defense against unwanted water is a sump pump. A sump pump will trigger on when excessive water is in the home and divert it out through the homes piping systems. Always take precautions to insure that you home is protected against the elements and that piping, washers and faucets, ect. are working properly.