Protect Your Bathroom From Water Damage
The bathroom is a common location of water damage in homes in Henderson. Keeping up with routine maintenance in your bathroom can help reduce the risk of water damage. By performing regular inspections on bathroom appliances, you can find problems sooner and get them addressed before they lead to major water damage. We at ERX would like to introduce some ways that you can keep your bathroom free from water damage.
- Check the plumbing regularly
You should inspect the pipes in your bathroom regularly and look for any signs that may indicate they are leaking. As pipes age, they will begin to rust and corrode, which can weaken the integrity of the pipe and lead to leaks. Checking your pipes at least once a year can help you catch the signs of damaged pipes and get them repaired before leaks occur. Pipe sunder sinks and to the toilet, and other pipes that you can visibly inspect, need to be checked on a regular basis.
- Inspect your shower and tub
Grout and caulk around tubs and showers seal these fixtures and prevent water from leaking out and around them. If you notice separation in caulk or grout, or areas that are chipped, cracked, or deteriorating in places, get it repaired and resealed before any water is used in the area. Consider reapplying caulk every few years to avoid any leaks before they can occur.
- Keeps the drains clean
Clogged or backed-up drains disrupt water flow. When water is not able to flow freely down drains, it will back up and overflow. Excess soap scum, grime, and hair can clog drains in bathrooms. Drain shields and guards keep materials from going down the drain, which helps prevent clogging. They catch and stop excess grime, scum, and hair so that you can wipe them down and throw them out instead of letting them go down the drain. These drain guards are inexpensive, can be purchased from the local hardware store, and are simply placed over the drain. You should also clean your drains periodically with either commercial grade drain cleaner or a mixture of baking soda, vinegar, and hot water to clean off build-up from inside the drainpipe.
- Take care of your toilet
Toilets can clog and overflow easily and frequently when not cared for or used properly. Make sure that you are not flushing too much toilet paper down the toilet, and do not flush anything other than toilet paper. Sanitary wipes and personal hygiene products should be thrown in the garbage instead of flushed down the toilet, where they can get stuck in the plumbing and cause clogs and sewage backup. If you have small children in your home, do not let them flush items down the toilet and teach them that only small amounts of toilet paper go in the toilet. Keep your toilet clean, and watch the water level in the toilet bowl. If it is too low or too high, that could be a sign of a drainage problem somewhere.
Keeping your bathroom clean, and performing regular inspections can greatly reduce the risk of water damage. If you do suffer any type of water damage in your bathroom, or anywhere else in your home, call the water damage cleanup experts at ERX.
