Estero, Florida Water Damage

Half an inch of standing water in our Estero living room

A home owner writes; We had driven to Orlando for the long weekend with the kids. The house looked fine when we pulled into the driveway after our trip but when I opened the front door it hit me like a punch. There was half an inch of standing water in our Estero living room, dining room and kitchen. We all walked in and stood in the puddle that was our home. As I walked to the bedrooms each one was soaked, the carpet squishing beneath my feet. I had no idea what to do.

Thank goodness my wife was still thinking and said where is the water coming from? I ran out the back door and shut off the main water supply to the house and felt momentary relief. Now what!

This is a much too common experience for Estero Florida homeowners. Some think it is just bad luck but I say it is lack of preparation and planning. In this particular case the problem was a water supply line failure in the kitchen but there are many potential water lines and hose that can flood your entire home in a weekend.

First and foremost, do you know where the main water shut off is for your house? If a plumbing line failed, even when you are at home, it could cause substantial Estero Florida Water damage before you could figure it out and shut the water off. Find your main water shut off and show everyone in your family where it is and how to operate the valve.

If you have a Estero Florida flood in your home, be sure to call a restoration company that will dry your home properly. Drying a structure requires technical training and specialized equipment. Ask if your Estero Florida Water Damage restoration company has technicians trained and certified by IICRC, The Institute of Cleaning and Restoration Certification. Restoration experts can often save cherished possessions and will speed your recovery time. Proper drying of your Estero Florida home structure is the key to preventing mold growth.

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A simple visual inspection of the most common places where water leaks occur on a monthly or quarterly schedule will prevent most Estero Florida plumbing source flooding episodes. Write it on your calendar and check your home for signs of possible problems.

They may include:

- Washing machine hoses. Look for bubbling in the hose lining and any sign of wetting or corrosion where the hose crimps onto the brass fitting. Replace the hoses as the manufacturer recommends.

- Water heater. Look for any sign of leaking or staining around supply lines and corrosion at the pipe joints and drain valve. Check the age of your water heater. If it is past its life expectancy replacing it will cost less than the water damage it may cause if it fails.

- Kitchen and bathroom sink fixtures. Look for wetness, corrosion and staining on the surfaces below the piping and valves. Make sure the shut offs operate properly. Replace the flexible supply lines if you see kinking or unraveling. Make sure the fittings are tight. Plastic plumbing fittings tend to loosen over time.

- Bath tubs and showers. Look for and signs of leaks around the valves like rust or drip lines. Check caulking for breaks or cracks. Look for loose tiles or crumbling grout. Re caulk cracked seals. Re grout to prevent water from getting behind your tiles. Run the vent fan when using the shower.

- Toilet supply lines and wax rings. Check the supply line for kinks and damage. Look for dripping or signs of previous leaks. Replace the lines if you see any damages. Check that the toilet fits tight to the floor and does not rock. Look for any leaking around the base of the toilet. The wax ring seals the waste line to the toilet fixture. A plumber should replace the wax ring if it is damaged.

- Dishwasher. Look for water on the floor after a wash cycle. Check the seals on the door. Condition the rubber seals. Look for staining inside the dishwasher.

- Ice Maker supply line to the refrigerator. Make sure the lines are securely fitted on both ends. There should be a shut off under the kitchen sink and sometimes on the back of the refrigerator. This can leak for some time before you notice.

- Air Conditioner drain pan and drain lines. Have you’re A/C unit serviced regularly. The service should include clearing the drain lines and insuring that the drain pan is clean.

- Outside hose bibs. Check around the hose fittings outside. Leaking bibs can cause water damage to the inside walls and house framing.

Spending 20 minutes a month inspecting areas of potential Estero Florida flooding may save loss of personal property and many thousands of dollars. Just as important, if you do experience Estero Florida flooding, hire the best Estero Florida Water Damage restoration company in your area. This choice could also save you thousands of dollars and get your home back to pre flood condition quickly.

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 1st, 2010 at 2:33 am and is filed under Estero Florida News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.