Pittsburgh Water Damage Cleanup

Many insurance claims related to home water damage are plumbing related.  A periodic check of various parts of your plumbing system can save you the headache and hassle of a costly water damage claim, some of which may or may not be covered under your policy.  Here are five plumbing checks you can make to avoid water damage.

1. Check in and around your toilet for signs of leaks.  The most common place for toilets to leak and cause water damage is around the wax seal.  This is a circular mold of wax which seals the toilet to the flange below.  If the bolts which hold the toilet down become loose or worn, the toilet may begin to wobble and break the wax seal.  Many times a brown or yellow spot on the ceiling below the toilet indicates a bad wax seal.
   Feel around the back of the toilet also for sometimes it is a bad tank to bowl gasket or bolts which causes a leak down the back of the toilet and this is mistaken for a wax seal leak.
   One final tip to help prevent your toilet from causing water damage is to insure the fill tube in the tank of the toilet is cut below the level of the tank lever.  If the fill-valve would fail and the water not shut off you want the water to go down the fill tube before spilling out through the tank lever opening.
2. The tub/shower unit is another plumbing area known to cause water damage.  Besides the obvious areas around the curtain or door, check the caulking around the tub spout and handle escutcheons.  If caulking is in poor condition remove with putty knife, clean, dry, and replace with new bathroom caulking.
   If you have an access panel behind the tub inspect the overflow gasket, located behind the overflow, which is usually held on by two screws.  These gaskets will dry-rot and need to be replaced.  This is more of an issue if the tub is used for baths more-so than showers.
3. Look closely under all sinks and pay particular attention to where the trap meets the wall.  This is the area which can go unnoticed as the water leaks in behind the sink cabinet to the room below.
   When under the kitchen sink be sure to look at the dishwasher drain hose.  It is often connected to it’s own p-trap and is at a lower level than your sink basin making it the first place water will overflow in the event of a slow-running or clogged sink.
   Lastly inspect all valves and supply lines under the sink and be sure to splash some water around the deck of the faucet to check for a solid connection to the sink basin.
4. Check your main shut-off valve for the house.  Whether or not any of the other valves work in your house, make certain this one does.  In case of a disastrous leak within the house you want this valve to be able to easily and efficiently shut down the water to the house.
5. A broken washing machine hose can cause a lot of water damage in a short time because they are often subject to catastrophic failure, as opposed to leaking.  If you notice any bubbles on the hose, replace them immediately.  The new stainless steel, braided type  should be used because they are stronger and last longer.
   It is also a good idea to replace the valves to which the hoses are connected to with the ball type.  This allows you to easily close the valves when not in use.

Check these areas twice a year to help insure a minor leak doesn’t become a major costly flood.  If you have already incurred water damage contact a professional restoration company.