Water damage is one of the most common and costly home insurance claims. These 10 maintenance steps can significantly reduce your risk.
Water damage is one of the most common and expensive homeowner insurance claims in the country — second only to wind damage in annual claim volume. The good news is that a significant portion of water damage is preventable with regular maintenance and a few proactive steps.
Here are 10 things that make a real difference.
1. Know Where Your Main Water Shutoff Is
This is the single most important thing every homeowner should know — and many don't. When a pipe bursts or an appliance fails, every minute counts. The faster you can shut off the water supply, the less damage occurs.
The main shutoff is usually located near the water meter — in the garage, utility closet, basement, or crawl space. Turn it periodically to make sure it moves freely (shutoffs can seize up if never operated). Make sure every adult in your household knows where it is and how to use it.
2. Inspect Your Roof Annually
A failing roof is one of the leading causes of interior water damage. You don't need to climb up there yourself — a visual inspection from the ground with binoculars or a walk around after heavy weather can reveal obvious issues. Look for:
- Missing, curling, or cracked shingles
- Sagging sections
- Visible gaps around flashing (the metal trim around chimneys, vents, and skylights)
Have a licensed roofing contractor inspect the roof every 3–5 years, or after any significant storm.
3. Keep Gutters Clean and Functional
Clogged gutters overflow, sending water down the side of your home and pooling at the foundation. Over time, this saturates the soil around your foundation, increases hydrostatic pressure on basement walls, and can lead to water intrusion.
Clean gutters at least twice a year — once in late spring after pollen season, once in late fall after leaves drop. Inspect downspouts to ensure they extend at least 4–6 feet from the foundation.
4. Check Appliance Water Supply Lines
Washing machines, refrigerators with ice makers, dishwashers, and water heaters all have supply lines that can fail. Braided stainless steel lines are significantly more durable than rubber hoses — if you have rubber hoses on your washing machine, replace them. Most plumbers recommend replacing appliance lines every 5–7 years regardless of condition.
When you go on vacation, consider shutting off the water supply to your washing machine. A washing machine hose failure with no one home is a major event.
5. Check Your Water Heater
Water heaters have an average lifespan of 8–12 years. As they age, the tank can rust from the inside, sediment builds up, and connections can develop small leaks. Signs of a water heater approaching failure include:
- Rust-colored water
- Rumbling or popping sounds during heating
- Pooling water around the base
- The unit is more than 10 years old
Water heater failures can dump 40–50 gallons of water in a short period — and often happen when no one is home. Consider installing a leak detector with automatic shutoff at the base of the unit.
6. Maintain Caulking Around Tubs, Showers, and Windows
Caulk around bathtubs, showers, and sinks prevents water from working behind tile and into wall cavities. This is a slow, hidden source of water damage that can go undetected for years. Inspect caulk lines annually. If it's cracking, discolored, or pulling away from the surface, it needs to be replaced — this is a simple DIY project.
Same applies to exterior window caulk, which prevents rain from entering around the window frame.
7. Check for Slow Leaks Under Sinks Regularly
Under-sink cabinets are easy to ignore. P-trap connections, supply line fittings, and drain connections can develop slow drips that go unnoticed for months. Once a month, open the cabinet under each sink and look for any moisture on the cabinet floor, on pipes, or in the back corners. A dripping pipe in a closed cabinet creates ideal mold conditions quickly.
8. Manage Grading Around Your Foundation
The soil around your home's foundation should slope away from the house at a grade of roughly 6 inches per 10 feet. If it slopes toward the foundation, rainwater channels directly toward your basement or crawl space. Over time, this leads to foundation moisture problems.
Check that mulch around your home isn't built up against the siding or foundation. Mulch holds moisture and can create a pathway for water and wood-boring insects.
9. Test Your Sump Pump
If you have a basement or crawl space sump pump, test it annually — ideally before the spring rain season. Pour water into the sump pit until the float triggers the pump. Listen for it to run and confirm water is being discharged. If the pump is more than 7–10 years old or takes a long time to activate, consider replacing it proactively.
Consider adding a battery backup to your sump pump. The most severe storms — the ones most likely to overwhelm the pump — are also the ones most likely to knock out power.
10. Install Water Leak Detectors
Smart water leak detectors cost $20–50 per unit and can be placed under sinks, behind toilets, near water heaters, and in any other high-risk area. They send a smartphone alert when moisture is detected — sometimes hours or days before a small leak becomes a major event. Some systems can be integrated with automatic water shutoff valves.
For a relatively small investment, leak detectors provide peace of mind — especially when you're away from home.
When Prevention Fails
Even with all precautions in place, water damage can still happen. When it does, speed matters more than anything else. Dark Sky Restoration responds 24/7 to water damage emergencies throughout York County, Lancaster County, Mecklenburg County, and Gaston County. The sooner we start, the less damage you face. Call 704-960-3922 any time.