One of the top problems that Saint Louis rental property owners deal with is water damage. Even a fairly small amount of water can turn out to be a disastrous force, creeping into ceiling joists, walls, floors, and even weakening a building’s very foundation. Just an inch or two of water on the floor can result in tens of thousands of dollars in important repairs. Even supposing it may not be achievable to prevent every single water-related emergency, there is still a lot you can do as the property owner to prevent water damage and the expensive repairs that are linked with it. Follow the pointers below to keep your Saint Louis investment property safe from preventable floods and leaks.
Prepare for Severe Weather
Water damage by reason of severe weather incidents is a common annoyance, definitely where storms are just a part of life. Strong wind and heavy rain can both trigger water damage, and if your property is located in a flood-prone area, flash flooding can often be a substantial risk.
To prevent water damage, it’s necessary to get your rental property apt and ready to face severe weather. By way of illustration, see to it to inspect your roof every year and seal any cracks or gaps you find. Replace missing shingles if needed, and secure that your flashing, gutters, and downspouts are in sound condition and suitably installed. In case those periods of heavy rain are expected to come, do what is necessary to improve the drainage around your property’s foundation to help water flow away from the walls. If your property is in a flood zone, think about having sandbags or sandbagging supplies on hand or nearby to help keep your property safe. Even on unexpected weather events, just a few preparations can help keep your property safe and dry.
Clean the Gutters
Another ordinary symptom of water damage is clogged or incorrectly installed gutters. Your rental property’s gutter system is designed to draw water away from the structure. Nevertheless, if your gutters are full of leaves, twigs, and other debris, that water will overflow down the side of the house, instead. This can give rise to all forms of complications, from leaking ceilings, wood rot, damaged drywall, and ruined flooring. If overlooked long enough, leaking gutters can even erode a cement foundation and wreak havoc on your landscaping.
The easy fix here is to clean your rental property’s gutters at least twice a year. Debris should be cleared out, and the gutter system checked for leaks and pooling water. Cleaning and working on small repairs on a gutter system will not only prevent water damage but, besides that, will save you money on repairs in the long run.
Inspect Your Plumbing (and Water Heater)
Water damage can furthermore happen inside your rental property due to plumbing issues. Leaking pipes, broken faucets, worn-out washing machine hoses, and old water heaters are highly probable water damage causes. Even something as small as a slow or blocked drain can trigger greater water damage and require costly emergency repairs.
To prevent water damage inside your rental home, have your plumbing system inspected at least each and every year. A professional plumber will know and detect developing problems that you can handle easily and instantly during an inspection. By resolving plumbing problems, while they are tiny, you can prevent water disasters and save tons of money on repairs. It’s additionally vital to keep informed of your water heater’s age and condition and have it serviced regularly and replaced before it fails. A failing water heater can flood a basement or garage, adding the cost of clean-up and repairs to the cost of replacing the unit itself. By replacing it before it fails, you can better manage your cash flows and avoid worthless expenses.
Preventing water damage can be toilsome and entails both time and good management. In place of simply doing it all yourself, assess recruiting one of our professional Saint Louis property managers to manage and do your preventive maintenance and inspections. To learn more, contact us online.
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