5 Items Waiting to Flood Your Home

HOT WATER HEATER

• About 75 percent of tank water heaters fail by the time they’re 12 years old
• 70 percent of water heater failures are from leaks or burst tanks
• What to look for: Check your water heat tank regularly for leaks. Have your water heater tank maintained on an annual basis. Have your water heater tank inspected to include flushing the tank, inspecting the anode rod, examining shut-off values and checking water heater piping. Installing a catch pan with a drain to channel water out on older water heaters in case of a small leak is a good practice.
• Replace your water heater every 10 years.

DISHWASHER

• Your home’s dishwasher has a life span of about 10-12 years.
• What to look for: Inspect the drain line where it connects to under-sink plumbing. Check the water supply line. If a leak is present replace immediately. It is recommended to use a steel braided hose over the standard hose to increase its longevity.
• This is something everyone does from time-to-time but it is not recommended: you shouldn’t run the dishwasher while away from home.

AIR CONDITIONER

• If you have an attic air conditioner be aware if it leaks it can cause a great deal of water damage due to its location.
• What to look for: check to see if you have a secondary drain line and drain pan overflow switch, if not consider having one installed.
• Have your air conditioner maintained on a regular basis to include checking the refrigerant level and changing the filter.

WASHING MACHINE

• More than half of all water damage occurring in homes is due to washing machine hoses breaking.
• What to look for: Inspect hoses once a month. Look for signs of damage to the hoses such as cracks, bulges, discoloration, even kinks. Have a professional replace damaged hoses.
• Turn off the water supply to the washing machine when you go on vacation.

REFRIGERATOR

• The main cause for refrigerator water leaks is the ice-maker
• The life span of an ice maker is less than that of the refrigerator, as low as five years.
• What to look for: Check to see if you have copper water lines, consider replacing with braided steel as an alternative. Inspect the water supply line located behind the refrigerator annually. Check the compression nut and tighten if loose to prevent a slow drip from causing water damage.