Leaks in your home, whether they come from the inside or outside, can lead to some serious problems. You need to leak proof your home! A burst pipe will flood your home and cause extreme water damage, but even small leaks cause a lot of issues too. Gradual water leaks lead to damp and mold growth in the home and you will soon start to notice bad odors around your home. So, what are you supposed to do?
Leak-proofing your home is crucial if you want to stop water from coming in from the outside or spilling out from your pipes. These are the key steps that you need to take.
Deal With Existing Leaks
First up, you need to deal with existing leaks. Unfortunately, people often deal with small leaks but they don’t get to the root of the problem with their plumbing, so the leaks keep coming back over and over. If you suspect a problem, call in leak detection contractors to diagnose the leak. They will be able to quickly determine the source and provide a long-term fix. By dealing with existing leaks properly, you give yourself a good base to work from and you can then start taking steps to prevent more problems in the future.
Get Plumbing Checked Regularly
Regular inspections of your plumbing are important if you want to leak-proof your home. Small cracks and corrosion in the pipes will soon develop into a fully-fledged leak. If you can pick up on those minor issues and sort them now, you will save yourself some big problems later on. During a plumbing inspection, these are the things that will be highlighted and dealt with.
Protect Your Home Exterior
You need to tackle leaks from the outside too, so make sure that the protective layer is in good condition. High-quality exterior paint protects your home from the elements and stops water from coming through. If you haven’t painted for a long time and the paint is starting to flake off, your home is not protected and it’s time to get the ladder out and give it a fresh coat.
Alternatively, you could consider installing cladding on the side of your home. It adds a great protective barrier against leaks and it’s easier to maintain than paint.
Waterproof The Foundations
Leaks coming through your foundations can eventually cause structural issues if you don’t deal with them. They’ll also cause a lot of excess moisture in the basement, so if it’s moldy down there, take a look at your foundations. Check all of the foundation walls and see if there are any small cracks. Even though they don’t look that serious, they will only keep getting bigger, so it’s best to fix them now. Directing water away from the base of the house will prevent leaks in the foundations too. You can do this by creating a simple slope with some stones and topsoil around the base of the property.
Follow these steps and you can leak proof your house from the inside and outside, so you can avoid any expensive water damage in the future.