Envision entering your lounge only to discover the rug looking like a mini marsh from a most-unexpected pipe burst. It’s the kind of scene that none of us ever want to front, yet when such misfortune strikes, the kind of water damage matters. From clear tap water gushing freely to rain pressure-seeping through the roof, different scenarios call for distinct attention. For instance, clean water issues, while just a pain, don’t pose the same health risk as gray water from a not-so-happy washing machine or, worse, black water, which is heralding sewage or flood seepage from the first step of your new funhouse tour. What’s crucial here, though, is the urgency in action; the faster you react, the more likely you are to save not just your stuff, but also your sanity.
When pondering the bright, balmy summer days when unexpected stormy weather rolls in, it can be all too easy to forget how the elements interact with our homes. Here in Plano, where sudden storms are notorious, the pressure is on to ensure that both new homes and older residences are fortified against a surprise deluge. And it’s not just about keeping the interiors dry—that’s a given. What about the ill wind that can wreak havoc on the unseen portions of a house, the parts that are supposed to stay hidden? Taking those valuable family mementos stored in the basement to higher ground can buy them time. And what about those ill winds? Ensuring that exits are fully watertight and that vulnerable spots are thoroughly shored up can keep the peace of mind flowing while the storm rages outside.
Besides doing the obvious repairs, think about the future. You have to be as much a detective and doctor for your house as well as yourself and your family if you care to live in anything but a decrepit shell.
Regularly and thoroughly checking your home's gutters, the condition of your roof, and the very integrity of your domicile can keep it from being a mosquito-breeding swamp.
Preventive maintenance—making sure that doesn't happen—is what keeps any house a home. Doing what it takes to ensure that every corner is dry and protected from even the tiniest of leaks is part of what you pay in time, money, and energy to care for the place that shelters you.