Home Maintenance that can Prevent Water Leaks and Eventual Mold Damage
Preventing water leakage in your home is an important part of responsible ownership. There is no doubt that any water leakage such as a pipe dripping or slow leakages can cause a significant damage over time.
As the water becomes absorbed into the building materials, it causes them to deteriorate causing structural damage. Moreover, the unknown leakages could lead to flooding which eventually causes mold.
Thus, one important measure we can take to prevent mold is proper and regular maintenance.
Why Should I be Worried about Mold in my Home?
Structural damage to your home due to mold should be one of your primary concerns. If you fail to detect and control sources of moisture, mold grows and spread causing damage to your building material.
However, structural damage should not be your only concern. Excessive amounts of mold growth in your home can trigger adverse health effects such as allergic reactions and breathing problems.
If you are concerned about the presence of molds in your home, call the experts at RDS Environmental Inc to investigate and recommend ways to deal with the problem.
Signs of Water Leaks and Mold in Your Home
If you have any allergic reactions that disappear when you go out, there is a high likelihood that your house has a mold. Check your house to see if there are any visible signs of water leakage.
Please note that even if you do not notice any leakages, there is a chance that molds have grown on the wall due to moisture in hidden places.
Below are signs that your home may have water leakage and mold.
- Strong odor in your home
- Dampness and high humidity inside the house
- Stained patches on the wall
- Sudden increase in your water bills
- Lower water pressure
- The foundation starts to shift
Maintenance Practices that can Prevent Water Leakages and Growth of Mold
1. Pipe Maintenance
Replacing worn out pipes for the bathrooms and kitchen is essential to maintain the proper condition of the rest of your home. A timely replacement of a broken, rusted or worn out pipe will prevent leakages that could cause mold. The best option is to call a professional plumber who will ensure that your plumbing is well connected and fastened.
2. Swamp Cooler Maintenance
There is always water in swamp coolers, and so, it is common for them to develop rust over time. Overtime, the rusted spots can start to leak. If you leave it for a longer period, you could end up with an expensive replacement and repair bill to your wall. The best way to ensure that you are safe is to catch the problem early before it causes a massive leaking problem and molding. Ensure that you always replace the pans if the rusting is extensive.
3. Sprinkler System Maintenance
Sometimes a fire sprinkler system may develop a leak causing insurmountable damage. The system may leak due to the following reasons:
- Equipment failure- The sprinkler may leak due to human or a manufacturing error.
- Freezing- Fire sprinkler heads installed close to the open air may freeze and leak. To prevent this problem always ensure that you close the windows in cold.
- Damaged Sprinkler heads- Vandalism, renovation, or construction can cause damage to the sprinkler systems. Always do routine checks to your sprinkler system to make sure that the damage does not cause damage to your walls.
- Corrosion- Corrosion of the sprinkler system may also cause leakages.
4. Roofing System Maintenance
Most of the leaks in homes happen due to a broken roofing system. For prevention, inspect your roof flashing for signs of damage and wear. In addition, repair or replace loose and damaged shingles and remove cracked caulk.
If you believe that you have undetected water leaks in hidden areas in your home, do not take chances. Call for professional assistance from RDS Environmental Inc. to test for mold in your home.
Using our certified professionals will give you peace of mind by certifying that your environment is safe and healthy for you and your family.
I moved into my apt. on 28 July 2021. I now have mold on my closet ceiling and on the ceiling above my bedroom door. A fire sprinkler is above each of the areas where the mold appeared on the ceiling. I lived in another apt for two years w/no insulation in the walls and quite cold and wet weather w/no mold anywhere except on the patio door areas. I kept draft dodgers on the floor and cleaned the seals on the doors periodically w/mildew mold cleaner. The walls were so cold that I kept the closet door open and the bathroom warmer running periodically.
What could have caused the mold in my knew apt?