Water damage can occur any time of the year and become a homeowner’s worst nightmare. This type of disaster is especially common during those harsh winter months, due to frozen pipes and roof damage from heavy snow. This causes many Minnesota homes and businesses to become victims of disaster and in need of costly repairs.

The last thing you want this year is to experience costly repairs for repairing any damages that can result from storms, floods, or the winter season. The best way to avoid this is by doing everything you can to prevent water damage from occurring in your home and business. Read our guide to learn what steps to take to protect your property.

Clean Out Your Gutters

The purpose of gutters is to keep water off your roof. If a gutter is blocked with debris, then it won’t be able to do what it was built to do. When gutters become clogged, they can cause water to seep through the roof and enter inside your home. It’s important that you stay on top of clearing out your gutters.

Avoid Frozen Pipes

Pipes are more likely to freeze during the winter and can cause them to burst, resulting in flooding your home. Here are few steps you can take to prevent your pipes from freezing this winter:

• Let water faucets run during those colder nights.
• Leave your sink cabinet doors open overnight.
• Keep your home warm, especially your garage or basement.
• Use heat tape to warm up the pipes. 
• Disconnect the hose from the outside faucet.

If you notice leaky faucets, a puddle under your sink, large water stains on the walls, or that your water bill has suddenly increased, this could mean that you have a burst pipe in your home and that it is important that you take action right away. Your first step is to turn off the water supply to avoid additional water from entering into your pipe system. The less water, the better. Be sure to clean up any water while you wait for repairs to prevent further damage or mold from growing. 

Consistently Check for Any Leaks

No matter how small a leak may be, you are definitely going to want to get this repaired right away before it becomes a much larger problem. Unattended leaks can result in structural damage or mold. Here are a few ways to check for leaks in your home:

• Check out any leaky faucets. As we mentioned earlier, this could mean you have a leaky pipe.
• Examine washing machine hoses for any holes or tears.
• Be on the lookout for dark spots coming from water appliances or pipes. 
• Monitor your water bill for any sudden increases.

Detecting any early signs of water leaks can save you a lot of money and prevent a potential disaster. Call your local plumber to resolve any leaks that you may come across.

Inspect Your Sump Pump

You most likely have a sump pump if you have a basement in your home. Not all homes come with a sump pump, so it would be wise to buy one if you don’t have one. This device is used to prevent any water from flooding into your basement. Make sure your sump pump is working properly so it can do its job effectively. The first step you can take to test out your sump pump is by filling the pit with water and watching it to see if it lowers water levels effectively. Here are some of the reasons why a sump pump may fail from doing its job correctly: 

• Lack of maintenance
• Improper installation
• Power outage
• A stuck switch
• Frozen discharge pipe
• Old age

Stay on top of the cleaning and some quarterly maintenance to increase your sump pump’s lifespan. They can be great tools, but if not taken care of this can result in a flooded basement and severe water damage. If you ever come across this issue, Rapid Restoration is your local Minnesota professionals who have the experience to clean up your home and restore it back to normal.

Contact Rapid Restoration Today!

Whether you are looking for sewage cleanup, carpet cleaning services, broken pipe repairs, or water damage restoration, you can always count on the professionals at Rapid Restoration! We understand that Minnesota property owners face a lot of safety threats to their property. No matter what disaster may come your way, our team are disaster recovery experts here to restore your home or business back to normal. 

Based in Roseville Minnesota, we offer services in water, fire, and mold restoration throughout the Twin Cities area as well as Western Wisconsin. For services outside our primary service areas, call us today to see how we can help!