Have water damage in your home from an appliance? SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau and Scott Counties is always on call ready to help,

4/12/2023 (Permalink)

Have water damage in your home from an appliance? SERVPRO of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties is always on call ready to help,

Maintaining Appliances That Can Cause Water Damage | SERVPRO® of Cape Girardeau & Scott Counties

The clink of ice, a cup of cold water straight from the fridge, clean laundry and dishes…could we function without the appliances in our home? While these units make our life easier, they also pose a risk of leaking from the water lines that make them work, making your home susceptible to damage.

Water damage that originates from an appliance can be challenging to find, as they often are slow leaks and can be hidden underneath the appliance itself.

When you know what to look for and you are able to act fast, however, you can mitigate your losses and get back to enjoying the appliances for their intended use.

Regular Maintenance

In order to prevent water damage, you have to look for it regularly. Use your hand to feel for wet spots around and under appliances as often as you clean in order to fix things quickly.

When an appliance leaks, it is often hidden underneath, so keep an eye out for unexplained drips in the floor. Move your appliances every so often to clean underneath them and check for mold growth or soft spots.

Your HVAC is another appliance that can often cause a leak inside or outside your home. You should have your unit professionally serviced once a year and change your filters every few months, but also check for moisture near vents and puddles of water by the exterior unit. These are both signs there is a leak somewhere, and it could be causing unseen damage or mold.

Check your water heater, too. This is one of the most common sources of water leaks in the home, and it can easily be forgotten until something stops working. Treat it like all your other appliances and watch for signs of leaks regularly.

Yearly or Long-Term Maintenance

Watching your appliances weekly or monthly means you can catch any problems early and stop damages before they become extreme. In addition to this, you should also get your appliances serviced according to their manufacturer guidelines. For some of your larger items, this likely means bringing in a professional, but there is also some long-term maintenance you can do on your own.

Look at hoses and other tubes on your refrigerator, dishwasher and washing machine. Check for signs of wear and tear like holes or kinks. Replace aging material to avoid problems, and upgrade your appliances altogether every 10 to 15 years.

Appliance leaks can start small but lead to massive damage when they aren’t caught and fixed fast. Enjoy your cold cup of water and the smell of fresh laundry with ease knowing that water damage isn’t hiding out anywhere in your home.

Have water damage in your home from an appliance or another source? Our team is here to help, so call us day or night.