Did you hear the one about….. the 9 year old boy who went upstairs to start filling the bathtub and thought he had time to go play a video game? Well, let me share that story. I got a call to provide an estimate for repairs that were needed for a water damaged home. When I got there the mother explained that she sent her 9 year old son, who loves to play video games, upstairs to take a bath. She did not think twice about what he was doing until the laundry room ceiling caved in and water started pouring down. She ran upstairs squishing through the wet carpet to find the water still running and the son in his bedroom still playing the video game. Once the water was turned off at the tub she realized that the upstairs carpet was wet and the water had seeped down through the floor and ceiling below dumping water into the first floor laundry room. 
I share this story in hopes it will heighten your awareness around the potential damage that water can cause and how quickly it can happen. Hopefully this “water escape” situation (to use insurance lingo) can be avoided at your home but any water leak no matter how small can cause damage. Don’t ignore that leak around the toilet, the creeping dark patch on your white vinyl floor under the refrigerator or the stain on your ceiling after a storm.
Proactive Steps to Prevent Water Damage
- Frequently inspect appliances – refrigerator, dishwasher and washing machines
- Install the metal braided supply hoses for your water lines to the washing machine
- Check for leaks anywhere there are water pipes and connections
- Check around windows and exterior doors to ensure no water stains
- Maintain your roof and replace as needed
- Inspect gutters and downspouts and clean regularly
