As I was walking back from the trails with Poppy this morning, I saw a water-remediation company van parked in front of a neighbor’s house. This afternoon when I went to preview a home, the prospective client had a hole in their drywall and fans running. Another client last week had water in the basement of her investment property, stemming from a cracked rubber boot around a plumbing vent up on the roof!
Whether it’s burst pipes from freezing temperatures or water coming in from outside due to rapidly melting snow on roofs and the ground, you don’t have to look hard to find people dealing with water-intrusion issues!
Use this checklist to evaluate your home and spot any possible problems. Identifying symptoms and fixing issues now could save you thousands of dollars later!
- Check your crawl space for standing water on or under the plastic vapor barrier. A small amount of moisture under the vapor barrier is normal, but standing water likely means there is an issue.
- Ensure there are no mineral stains on the vapor barrier which might be evidence of previous, intermittent water intrusion.
- Inspect for stains on the decking, footings, or insulation in the crawl space which might point to plumbing leaks from a toilet or shower above.
- Check for corrosion on plumbing lines and water fixtures which can indicate small leaks that could become bigger in the future.
- Look for evidence of microbial growth on decking, floor joists or trusses, and underneath insulation in the crawl space and attic. Mold likes darkness, warmth, and moisture!
- Inspect your hardwood or laminate floors for cupping, warping, buckling, or ridges which can indicate water intrusion or a plumbing leak in the crawl space. An agent colleague just returned from a trip to find 2500 square feet of hardwood flooring buckled from a water issue!
- Do you have discoloration on any ceilings or walls? How about any peeling paint or wallpaper? These are signs your roof may be leaking or that you have an ice dam causing water to back up and flow into your attic and down the walls.
- Check your baseboards and drywall for discoloration or swelling which might indicate a leak in the plumbing behind the wall or that water has traveled along the plumbing lines from another location — like the roof or a shower overflow — both issues we’ve encountered!
- Ensure your gutters are sufficient to capture rainwater from the roof and direct it to a downspout that discharges at least six feet away from foundation walls. Often water in basements or crawl spaces is due to lack of gutters or poor gutter drainage.
- Check for stains on the soffit or fascia which might indicate water is not draining properly from the roof. The same can be said for damage to exterior siding!
Regular inspections and prompt action to address any signs of water issues can help prevent more extensive damage to your home.
