4 min read
Fall is one of the best times of the year, especially for Texans. Around this time, some of the best things in life happen all at once and pave the way for more excitement as the holiday season approaches.
However, before you get too engrossed in cozying up on the couch as you enjoy football, it’s also important to remember that with the fall comes falling temperatures — and with that comes the threat of water damage.
Why Fall is the Best Time For Maintenance and Water Damage Prevention
Water damage is a common problem in most Texas households and commercial properties. During the 2021 winter storm alone, insurance companies were flooded with hundreds of thousands of claims requests as a result of broken pipes and water damage that required professional restoration.
Prevention is, and will always be, better than a thousand cures. Implementing preventive measures around your property is the best way to protect it against the constant threat of water damage and eliminate all water damage restoration costs.
Fall sets the perfect backdrop for all your water damage preventive measures. It is a perfect transition period where the humid days of summer have gone, and the colder days are still ahead.
Waiting until all the leaves have fallen makes cleaning and maintaining your garden easier. Above all, with winter on the horizon, you have the perfect opportunity to winterize your home and ensure warmth and comfort for your family as the winter cold lingers outside.
Fall Home Maintenance Checklist
As temperatures continue to drop and the days grow shorter, take full advantage of the fall season to maintain your home, prevent water damage, and ensure it’s prepped for winter.
Consider the following list as your fall home maintenance checklist:
Outside
- Inspect Your Roof: As your property’s primary source of protection against the elements, inspecting every corner of your roof eliminates the possibility of leaks and other potential problems. You can do this yourself or enlist the help of an experienced roofer to have it professionally checked.
- Check and Clean Your Gutters: When all the leaves have fallen off, a considerable amount of them may have ended up on your roof and gutters. Check your gutters regularly and clear away any leaves, twigs, and other small debris to provide a clear channel for water to flow away from your property.
- Trim the Trees: Prune large branches, especially if they’re growing too close to your property. There is a threat of falling trees and branches landing on your home.
- Clean Your Garden: Clear the weeds, fallen leaves, and other small debris. If necessary, remove overgrown shrubs to prevent their roots from infiltrating underground sewer lines and pipes.
- Drain and Disconnect Your Hoses: Since plants don’t need to be watered as much around this time, you won’t need your hose as much. Storing your garden hose helps keep away the clutter from your garden. It also helps prevent potential problems with your piping system due to frozen water that blocks water flow, which can cause pressure buildup.
- Check Your Yard Regularly for Standing Water: Pay attention to your drainage to eliminate the possibility of standing water in your yard. Standing water, especially near your home or building’s foundation, can lead to foundational issues and facilitate microbial growth.
Inside
- Check the Walls and Ceiling For Any leaks or Cracks: Eliminate the possibility of water entering your property by sealing up cracks, leaks, and other possible damage. Alternatively, you can enlist help from a contractor or carpenter to help you with a comprehensive inspection of your property.
- Inspect Your Window and Door Frames: After constant exposure to the elements, your window and door frames may suffer damage, which may cause them to loosen. This creates gaps through which water can enter during a storm. Inspect your windows and doors along with their frames for signs of loosening or damage, and seal them up. If necessary, use weather stripping or caulking to prevent drafts.
- Change Your HVAC Filters: Clearing away dust buildup prevents your system from overworking, damaging your evaporator coils and causing HVAC water damage.
Keep Your Property Secure with Restoration 1
Preparation is always vital in preventing any disaster from happening or at least mitigating the amount of damage dealt. But in some cases, you could still find yourself needing emergency assistance, no matter how much you prepare.
A seemingly minor event could lead to disastrous results and leave considerable damage. In times like these, you can count on the water damage restoration experts at Restoration 1 to help you secure your property and re-establish normalcy in your surroundings.
Trust the water damage restoration experts at Restoration 1 to restore your property’s pristine condition. Call Restoration 1 of San Antonio North today!
