Your home is your sanctuary. It’s where you feel the most comfortable and it’s a place where you can rest after a long day. Imagine coming home to a leak in your ceiling, or damaged wooden floorboards due to water. It would be a total nightmare.
In the end, no one wants to experience leaks or water damage in their homes but sometimes, floods happen, appliances malfunction, and pipes leak. The reality is, you can’t prevent storms from happening and sometimes you can’t foresee when a pipe is going to break. So, what can you do to lessen the damage?
The answer is in waterproofing your home. The act of waterproofing your home is more than applying sealant onto areas where leaks happen the most. It’s also taking the time and effort to observe your home and maintain it the best you can.
For example, patching up cracks or leaks as soon as you spot them, installing drainpipes or waterspouts to avert water from leaking into your home, or even going the extra mile to install floor barriers.
Why Should You Waterproof Your Home?
So, why should you waterproof your home? We’ve nailed it down to these three reasons:
Prevent Mold Growth
Mold growth needs two things to happen— moisture and material to grow on. Mold spores are everywhere and preventing them from entering your home would require a lot of effort and sterilization. This wouldn’t be an ideal way to live.
You could prevent mold growth by reducing the chances of water seeping into your home. Fixing any leaks or updating your appliances is a great way to waterproof your home and reduce any chances of mold growth in the first place.
Another way to waterproof your home and eliminate mold growth is to reduce moisture. Some homeowners have invested in dehumidifiers to get rid of moisture. This is necessary if you have a basement and live in a tropical climate.
Flood Prevention
Floods can happen anytime. Most of the time it’s due to severe weather conditions. Sometimes, a bad leak can cause your house to flood. Appliances can also be the culprit. For example, washing machines can malfunction and cause flooding.
By taking action and observing your appliances, you can prevent them from malfunctioning. Appliances need to be updated from time to time. By making sure your appliances are up-to-date and in shape, you’ll keep your home safe from malfunctions and possible floods.
Floods can be highly damaging to your home because it can cause a barrage of problems such as water damage. So, it’s best to take action now, and waterproof your home.
Reduce Chances of Water Damage
Water Damage can be a pain to repair and sometimes, it might be even impossible to repair. Although minor water damage can be repaired fairly quickly, it’s better to prevent it from happening in the first place.
Water damage can bring a lot of problems such as mold growth and damage to your furniture, walls, and in some cases, wooden floors. When left alone, water damage can further cause issues for your home.
Some signs of water damage include stains, crumbling wood, musty smells, puddles forming in the backyard, and bubbling walls.
Things You Can Do to Waterproof Your Home
There are a lot of things you can do to start waterproofing your home. Depending on your budget and what needs to be waterproofed, here are a few tips that are applicable to every homeowner.
Check for leaks or cracks
Making time to check around the house and look for any signs of damage can help you prevent bigger issues later on. If you’re unsure about where to check or if you’re uncomfortable with going into crawl spaces, then consider hiring a professional to help you out.
Most of the time, severe leaks or water damage comes from burst pipes. Oftentimes, we don’t observe our home closely and these issues go unnoticed. So, checking around the house is the first step to waterproof your home.
Improve air circulation
Although installing an air conditioner or dehumidifier won’t stop your pipes from leaking or storms from happening, improving air circulation in your home can keep your house dry and reduce the chances of water damage or mold growth.
This is especially important if you live in a relatively humid or tropical climate. It also applies to homeowners who have basements because these spaces tend to be humid due to the lack of exits and ventilation.
Keep appliances updated
Appliances that run on water such as dishwashers, washing machines, refrigerators, ice makers, and hot water tanks can malfunction. Appliances can fail or leak anytime. When they leak, they can cause a lot of problems for your floors or walls.
So, it’s highly recommended that you keep an eye on your appliances and repair or replace them if needed.
Wrapping Up
Your home also needs care and attention. There’s nothing worse than coming home to a pool of water in your living room. The good news is that there are various things you can do to reduce the chances of that happening.
Waterproofing your home is vital when it comes to keeping your house in good condition and family safe from water damage or mold growth. So, remember to be on the lookout for leaks or cracks, keep your home dry, and always keep an eye on your appliances.
