From mold and mildew to structural flaws, water damage can lead to serious problems for your property.
Although houses are no longer built along the city’s floodplain, frequent rainfall means that Mississauga is no stranger to flash flooding – and during the wet summers, even a leaky roof can quickly cause havoc in your home.
If the worst should happen, you’ll need to contact a professional water restoration company such as IDC Fire and Water Restoration as soon as possible. Expert technicians will be able to clear the damage and return your home to its original state.
But as the saying goes, prevention is always better than a cure.
The good news is there are some simple steps you can take to protect your home from water damage occurring. Read on to find out more.
1. Check Your Gutters
The guttering outside your house can easily become clogged with leaves, branches, and other debris, particularly if there are lots of trees around your house. When this happens, it stops the water from flowing through your gutters. This means the water could start to overflow and run down the sides of your house.
If you’ve got windows that aren’t completely watertight, the overflowing water can make its way through small cracks and into your home. Clogged gutters can even cause your roof to corrode – which brings us onto our next step.
2. Have Your Roof Professionally Inspected
A leaky roof can lead to disaster, especially during the rainy months in Mississauga. Whether it’s caused by clogged gutters, cracked flashings, or blocked vents, it’s important to identify the structural issue as quickly as you can.
The best way to do this is by organizing regular roof inspections. A trained professional will be able to survey your attic and roof, searching for problems that will only get more serious further down the line.
By fixing the issue before any water damage occurs, you’ll be able to save a lot of time, money, and stress later on.
3. Waterproof Your Basement
Your basement is one of the easiest places for water to accumulate. You might not think it’s unusual for basements to smell a bit musty, but if you’re battling damp-related mold, you could soon be dealing with worse than an unpleasant smell.
To avoid mold building up in your basement, it’s a good idea to ensure the room is fully waterproof. There are several ways you can do this:
- Applying a sealant to your exterior walls. You can apply this over concrete, stone, or brick. Once your sealant sets, it will plug any cracks in the masonry and prevent water from seeping through.
- Leave a sump pump in your basement. This will remove any rainwater that’s accumulated in your sump basin.
- Install a drainage mat around the foundation of your home.
4. Check Your Doors & Windows for Gaps
Ill-fitting windows and doors can let in more than just a breeze. During periods of heavy rain, water can easily get blown through the gaps, leading to damp patches on your carpet, floor, or walls.
If you notice a draft coming through your door, it could indicate that you’ve got an air leak.
Luckily, this can be a simple problem to fix – as long as you catch it early. With solutions such as spray-foam insulation, you can not only prevent water from getting through the gaps, but also improve the energy-efficiency of your home. Worried about water damage in Mississauga? By following these four top tips, you can help to protect your home from leaks, floods, and mold.