Water Leaks – Protecting Your Home from Property Damage

Perhaps one of the most common causes of water damage in Northwest Houston is not the weather, but from plumbing leaks within your home. A burst pipe can release countless gallons of water in a short period of time. All of the water has nowhere to go. It soaks into the walls, carpet, furniture, and flooring. What an absolute mess! It’s important to keep your home’s plumbing system in tip-top shape year-round. Unfortunately, most homeowners are clueless about their plumbing system. Well, it’s easy to schedule prompt plumbing repairs and maintenance from a trusted source. Doing so regularly throughout the year can alleviate some serious damage and concerns.

First, let’s get this out of the way. It’s impossible to prevent every single plumbing leak or cause of a leak in your home. Despite your best efforts, mistakes happen. Your plumbing, even just a single pipe under the house, could be old and corroded. You might miss that one pipe during a visual inspection. The best you can do, however, is prepare wherever possible. 

• Insulation – During the winter, even here in Houston, it’s best to insulate your exterior pipes to ensure they do not freeze or burst during the night. Wrapping any exposed pipes will put a stop to a serious leak.
• Inspections – You should regularly schedule professional plumbing inspections to determine the condition of your home’s plumbing system.
• Check Fixtures – Your home’s fixtures take a lot of abuse – some daily. A leaky faucet or showerhead is an incredibly common cause of property damage that is easily avoidable with a quick check.
• Water Heater Service – Like the rest of your plumbing system, occasionally schedule water heater service to put a stop to leaks or sediment buildup – both of which cause damage.

When it comes to water damage, insurance companies can be fickle. For instance, their coverage for water damage varies and it’s quite specific. For water damage caused by a plumbing leak, the only coverage you’ll see is if the leak was sudden and accidental. Exactly what constitutes a sudden and accidental leak is up for debate, but it typically includes a burst pipe or ruptured water heater.

For a pipe leak or fixture leak, you’re out of luck. The insurance agents will argue that you should have caught the situation early, provided plumbing maintenance, or replaced the fixture.

You’ll find 24-hour plumbing leak detection and repair from bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of Northwest Houston. Give us a call at 346-222-5262!