Keep ahead of water damage

MOSES LAKE — With fall turning into winter, there’s always a risk of water damage to the home from a sudden thaw or heavy rain or snowfall.  

“(Water damage) is one of the most common and expensive claims that homeowners need to file,” said Jennifer Hawton, a spokesperson for Pemco Insurance. “It accounts for 25% of all homeowner insurance claims, and it can move people out of their homes for weeks ... but it is also one of the most preventable kinds of damage.” 

Between 2018 and 2022, the most recent years for which data was available, 1.6% of insured householders filed claims for water or freezing damage, according to the Insurance Information Institute’s figures. The average water or freezing damage claim was almost $14,000. That’s a sizable chunk of money, not to mention the hassle of finding somewhere to stay while the damage is being repaired. 

“In preventing water damage you want to maintain, monitor and inspect,” Hawton said. “Maintaining your plumbing and drainage systems … early and often (is) one of the easiest and most effective ways to prevent water damage. Check your pipes and plumbing.” 

There are steps homeowners can take to prevent water damage before the moisture gets into the house, according to home improvement website Angi.com, including: 

• Keeping the gutters clean 

• Checking the chimney for loose mortar and bricks 

• Waterproofing the basement or under-house crawl space 

• Installing a sump pump 

• Having the roof professionally inspected 

• Calking exterior cracks 

Eastern Washington homes are especially vulnerable to ice dams, according to Pemco’s website, which is when the snow melts in the warmer middle part of the roof but refreezes at the edge where the house isn’t insulated. This prevents the water from flowing off the roof and lets it soak through the shingles and seep into wall cavities. Homeowners should also check their downspouts to make sure they’re diverting water away from the home, Hawton said.  

But what if the water is coming from inside the house? 

“One of the biggest claims that we get is water damage that happens from refrigerator feed lines,” said Hawton. “The feed lines for your dishwasher or your refrigerator are made of plastic, and they can be replaced with a stainless steel hose that has a much longer life.” 

Water heaters are another potential source of trouble, Hawton said. “It will be fine, it will be fine, it will be fine and then it will just break. A lot of … folks just replace their water heaters at 10 years. No matter what the what the manufacturer says, if it's 10 or 15 or 12, they should do it at 10. You should (also) drain and flush your water heater on a regular basis.” 

There are devices that homeowners can install that detect leaks in appliances, Hawton said. Placing leak detectors on the washing machine, water heater, refrigerator and dishwasher can make a huge difference. But it’s still important to keep an eye out for potential trouble. 

“Water bills are a great, subtle sign of a leak in your home,” Hawton said. “If it suddenly goes up and you don't have an explanation, there's a leak somewhere. You should also look out for water stains on the ceilings or the walls or even the floors. Make sure that you're using your nose as well, because sometimes there's those musty, damp smell and if suddenly your water has low pressure or discolored water, that's often a sign of a leak.”

If water does form up rapidly inside, the first thing to do is make sure everybody is safe, Hawton said.  

“Make sure there's not an electrical current,” she said. “Turn off the power to the house if there's standing water and shut off your home’s water main to stop the gush. Use bath towels to quickly soak up the water, especially on wood floors, because they warp very quickly. … Open the windows, turn on fans.” 

Many people don’t know where their water main is located, she added, so it’s a good idea to find that out ahead of time so you don’t have to go hunting for it in an emergency.

Finally, if your house is damaged by water, call your insurance company, Hawton said.

“Most (companies) will send out mitigation specialists to check the damage right away, to see what it is, what level we're dealing with, because they're the people who know,” she said. 

A home is a huge investment, and it’s important to take care of it, Hawton said, even if you have to hire professionals for things you don’t have the skill or tools to do. 

“You have to earn a driver's license to drive a car; you don't have to get a homeowner's license to own a home,” she said. “(Home maintenance) used to be something that we learned from our grandparents or the handy guy down the road, but we don’t necessarily learn that anymore.” 

Getting ready for winter: 

When it comes to protecting your home from ice and water woes, go from bottom-to-top and outside-in, according to Pemco Insurance.  

Insulate exposed pipes. During extreme cold snaps or prolonged stretches of sub-freezing weather, uninsulated pipes in your crawlspace, attic, workshop or garage can freeze solid and rupture. Once they thaw, they can spew water, causing serious water damage in minutes. If you find an exposed pipe, wrap it with insulation and plug cold-air leaks around pipe installations with caulk or insulation. You also can use foam insulation, heat tape or pipe sleeves to protect your pipes from the cold.   

Disconnect garden hoses and cover outdoor faucets. In cold weather, water trapped in garden hoses can back up, freeze, and split the pipe, causing an in-wall leak once the ice thaws. To prevent that, disconnect garden hoses and, if the faucet has an indoor valve, turn it off and open the faucet to drain any trapped water. Cover the faucet with a foam protector.   

Reduce your risk of ice dams. Insulate attics to ensure your roof is evenly cold, keep gutters and downspouts clean, and consider installing electric cable deicers to overhangs if you have a non-combustible roof.  

If you’re traveling: 

Turn off water to the whole house at the main shutoff.  The last thing you want is to come home to a soggy surprise after an undetected leak has run for days. However, if you have an automated fire sprinkler system, leave it on and shut off the water to individual appliances and fixtures. 

Keep your heat set to at least 55 degrees. You’ll keep your energy bill manageable while ensuring there’s still enough heat in your home to protect your pipes if the outdoor temperatures plunge.   

Install water leak sensors. They can really come in handy when you’re away from home. A leak detector can send an alert to your phone if it finds a leak, or if it’s connected to a smart valve, can shut off the water supply automatically. 

    A spigot on the outside of the home is handy for keeping the yard green during the summer, but it's important to ensure they're insulated against Eastern Washington winter temps as winter comes to the region.