How can you protect your home from leaks and water damage?

Flooding and water leaks are problems that occur more often among residents of the flats than family houses. Statistics provided by PZU – insurance group show that flooding that is the most common reason for reporting damage from housing policies.

Flooding and water leaks are problems that occur more often among residents of the flats than family houses. Statistics provided by PZU – insurance group show that flooding that is the most common reason for reporting damage from housing policies. Flooding of the apartment may be the result of weather conditions, but often (60% of reports) they are caused by failures and so-called neighbourhood flooding.

It’s no wonder that flooding is something that real estate owners are very afraid of. It usually happens at the least appropriate moment and it can lead to huge costs and a lot of stress. Removing the effects of flooding are also very time consuming. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to save your home – and nerves. In this article we will look at various ideas for protection against the effects of water damage. You will learn how you can minimize the threat and how to protect the house using the anti-flood system.

Water damage insurance – is it worth having?

The most severe effect of flooding in a house or apartment are the costs that we must incur to bring our home into service. A favourable solution is a situation where we have insurance that helps us to cover the costs. Verisk Insurance Service Office (ISO) found that in 2017 alone, the total amount of insurance payouts for in the U.S. for water damage was $13 billion, with an average claim cost of $10,000.

It is worth remembering that insurance cannot only protect us in the event of leakage caused by failure or neglect, but also cover damage caused by neighbouring flooding. A good policy gives a lot of security, but it still does not protect us from water damage itself.

How to avoid water leaks and damage?

Flooding in an apartment can be the result of an unfortunate combination of circumstances, but if you can minimize the risk, why not take advantage of it? There are a number of good practices that will help you avoid flooding.

It all starts with the design and assembly of water installations and individual devices. It is worth considering the location of pipes here – the real danger is in unheated rooms in which the risk of water freezing will be higher. What if your installation is located in a generally warm place, but you are afraid that an unexpected drop in temperature will cause a failure anyway? It will be useful to equip the house with an intelligent controller for the heating device, which will take care of the proper insulation of the room, even if you are away from home.

Skilful design of the device is one thing, but you cannot forget about professional installation. Choose verified professionals who will ensure the proper connection of pipes and finish the installation to the correct standards. The same applies to installing toilets or appliances that are in contact with water (washing machine, dishwasher) – it is not worth scrimping on costs, as incorrect connection may result in leaks after some time. It is better to entrust this task to experienced professionals. Creating an appropriate documentation for water installations will also be an important element. Knowing where the pipes are located will be useful during subsequent renovations – it will avoid unpleasant (and wet) surprises.

Of course, you don’t always have an influence on how the water installation is designed and installed. Even if you only rent a flat or live in a house bought in the secondary market, you can avoid water damage by taking appropriate measures. Regularly check the condition of the components which often cause flooding, for example, the water supply hoses or seals. Remember the warranty and make sure to replace outdated parts of the installation. It is also important to descale devices that can cause water leaks.

Do not forget about small activities that have a significant impact on the condition of the water installation in your home. For example, closing windows before leaving the house, or always keeping an eye on flowing water. It is also extremely important not to throw food debris, coffee grounds, or oil into the sink, which can accelerate clogging of the drain.

In addition, make sure that unwanted objects do not get into the bathroom sink, shower tray or toilet. This will avoid time-consuming interventions and costly flooding.

Secure your home from water damage

Do you remember to perform regular inspections and take care of the water system components? Unfortunately, flooding can happen to you anyway. There is some good news – you can protect yourself from serious damage to your home, and thus costs and stress. Simply equip your apartment or house with anti-flood system – it doesn’t mean a full-blown renovation! The system protecting the house against flooding can be simple to install and use.

What does such a system entail? One example is the Water Stop set from the Auraton Smart offer – you will find within two wireless devices (a water leak detector and a solenoid valve) that create a safe system which protects against the effects of flooding.

  • The Flood Sensor is a small device that you can place where you are afraid of leaks – for example, behind a washing machine or in the boiler room. From now on, the Flood Sensor will protect the area. Whenever it detects water, it will raise an alarm.

    This solution will work great when there are members of the household indoors – thanks to the sensor, they will learn about the danger within a few seconds. What if nobody is home? The Water Stop set from Auraton Smart has been equipped with one more feature that will perfectly complement the functionality of the anti-flood sensor:
  • A solenoid valve (Flood Sensor Valve) that is in constant contact with the sensor. The sensor has detected a flood, and the household members do not respond? After only 10 seconds, the solenoid valve will close the water supply to prevent serious damage.

A quick response to a flooded apartment is not the only advantage of the Water Stop set. As befits elements of a smart home, these devices are under your full control – wherever you are. Using the mobile application, you can control the water supply remotely, as well as learn about the interventions of your anti-flood system.

You also don’t have to worry about whether the lack of electricity or the internet will jeopardize your efforts to keep your home safe. The valve from the Auraton Smart offer will work both in constant power mode and with the support of the built-in battery – if the battery level decreases, you will receive a notification. Whether you’re at work or resting on vacation, you know that your home is protected from the effects of flooding.

The anti-flood system will help you prevent damage caused by flooding, but it also helps keep the installation in good condition, which is the basic condition to avoid flooding. The Auraton Smart solenoid valve also has the AntiStop function, the device regularly cleans itself and the chance of seizure (and a serious failure) decreases.

Water leaks in the home – better to act in advance

Flooding the apartment is not the end of the world, but no one wants it to happen. However, you can prepare yourself and, as a result, avoid the effects of flooding: significant costs, damaged belongings and many nerves.

To prevent the effects of flooding you should:

  • Purchase insurance – an appropriate policy will guarantee funds to cover the damage caused by flooding the apartment or house.
  • Care for water installations and household appliances – regular inspections will minimize the chance of failure.
  • Equip your home with an intelligent anti-flood system – a flood sensor and solenoid valve will control the flood, even if you are not at home.

Make sure that your home is protected from flooding and its devastating effects, today. You will sleep much more peacefully!