Water damage to a home can be costly and devastating. Most homeowners don’t realize they have water leaks until it’s had a chance to build up. Unfortunately, left unchecked, water can cause wood rot, mold and mildew growth, foundation cracks, insect infestation, and more. The good news is, it’s easy to prevent these issues altogether.

1. 7SAVVYTIPS
TOPREVENTWATERDAMAGE

2. Water is your home’s number one enemy.
Water leaking into your home can cause
flooding, foundation problems, mold and
mildew, and wood rot, all of which can be
costly and time consuming to fix. Defend
your home from water damage with these
7SAVVYTIPS.

3. 1.INVESTINGUTTERPROTECTION

4. Clogged gutters are the
number one culprit of
water damage. Debris
buildup causes gutters
to overflow, which puts
your roof and foundation
at severe risk.

5. 1 2A temporary solution is to tackle
gutter cleaning, but is not a
long-term prevention strategy.
A permanent solution is
to invest in LeafFilter™
gutter protection, which is
guaranteed to keep leaves,
debris, and critters out of
your gutters for the lifetime
of your home.
HERE’SHOWyou can prevent water damage due to clogged gutters:

6. 2.SEALITUP

7. Moisture leaks around
windows, doors, and other
openings in your home
might not seem like a big
issue, but over time, they
can cause wood rot, and
mold and mildew buildup.

8. 1 2Carefully caulk around all
exposed cracks. For larger
cracks, you can use foam
rods or expandable foam.
Bonus: Sealing these
cracks and crevices will
also help you save money
on your energy bill.
to keep water from seeping in between the cracks:
HERE’SHOW

9. 3.BECAREFULWITHYOURLANDSCAPING

10. In addition to boosting
curb appeal, proper
landscaping can also
help prevent water
damage to your home.

11. 1 2Slope your yard away from
your home to prevent rainwater
from flowing towards your
foundation. Build it up with
extra dirt if need be.
Install yard drains in low
spots to keep water from
causing sinkholes and
foundation damage.
to use landscaping to your advantage:
HERE’SHOW

12. 4.REPAIRYOURROOF

13. An old or damaged
roof leaves your home
vulnerable to water
leaks.

14. 1 2Call a professional roofer to
patch any damaged spots in
your roof. Look for missing or
damaged shingles, moss
buildup, and discoloration.
Completely replace roofs
that are over 20 years old.
to keep your roof in tip top shape:
HERE’SHOW

15. 5.PATCHTHATPLUMBING

16. Leaks in your plumbing may
not be visibly noticeable
until there’s a big problem.
If you start to see yellowed
spots on your ceiling, or hear
a dripping noise inside your
walls, it’s time to act fast.
Call your trusted plumbing
professional, and get that
leak fixed immediately.

17. 1 2Regularly check your pipes
for cracks or other damage,
especially after a freeze or
thaw.
Monitor your water bill for
unusual spikes, which can
indicate a water leak.
you can prevent plumbing mishaps:
HERE’SHOW

18. 6.MINDYOURSUMPPUMP

19. Homes that have
sump pumps are at
extra risk of water
damage.

20. 1 2Get a backup generator or
battery powered pump to
keep it running during
power outages.
Regularly check your pump
for frozen or clogged lines,
pump damage, and other
issues.
to prevent problems like basement flooding:
HERE’SHOW

21. 7.GETADEHUMIDIFIER

22. If you still have unwanted moisture
in your home with no known cause, it
could just be natural humidity in
the environment.
GET A DEHUMIDIFIER TO KEEP UP
WITH THE LOCAL CLIMATE.