Tips On How to Repair Minor Water Damage
Water damage is one of the most common problems faced by property owners, and in most cases, they turn to water restoration companies to help them solve their problems. However, if the water damage to your home is relatively minor then you may not need to call them at all. You may be able to deal with the problem on your own.
You will need to act quickly, however. Even the smallest water damage can get worse if it’s ignored for too long. So if you need help repairing water damage to your home then here are a few tips that will help you do it.
Leak Repair and Containment
Leaking pipes are one of the most common causes of water damage, and you can deal with them in one of two ways. You can either repair them or you can contain them until you can contact someone to repair them for you.
If the leak is large or if there are several of them then you will need to opt for containment. However, if the leak is minor then you can repair it on your own. Here’s how you do it.
First of all, you will need to turn off the water supply by closing your shut-off valve. Once the water supply is off, take a piece of cloth and use it to dry the leaking pipe.
If you find mold on the leaking pipe, take some sand paper and rub it on the pipe’s surface. Removing the mold will allow you to carry out repairs more easily.
Next, take some special plumbing tape and wrap it around the affected leak. Use as much as you think is necessary to seal off the leaking part of your pipe. The more layers of tape you wrap around the pipe, the better, and if you can extend it for a few inches on all sides, go for it.
Your next step is to take some epoxy and apply it on the affected area. However, you should only do this after the pipe’s surface is dry and there’s no more water dripping through the pipe. After you have applied the epoxy, leave it there for half an hour then turn on the water again. If everything works out well, the leak will no longer be there for you to worry about. If not then call a professional to deal with the leak.
Another method for repairing a damaged pipe is to take portion of your garden hose and seal it into the damaged area of your pipe. To do this, you will need to cut off a section of your old hose and then you will need to wrap it around the damaged part of your pipe using your plumbing tape and epoxy.
On the pipe’s underside, you should attach a clamp that’s meant for the hose. You can do this by inserting it on the area where the hose material was wrapped around. Naturally, you will need to screw the clamp tightly around this area using pre-inserted screw holes.
Water Damage Clean Up
In most cases of water damage, it’s not enough to repair the damaged areas of your property. You will also need to clean them up. Not only will this prevent further damage, it can also help you to repair more serious damages later on.
Consider the types of water damage caused by rainfall and leaking pipes. Not only can they damage certain parts of your home, they can also make certain areas dirty, and this in turn will cause further damage to your home.
Fortunately, removing dirty water is fairly easy. All you need to do is mop the area and then close it off. You will also need to remove your furniture and electronic devices from the immediate vicinity while you carry out your work. If you have carpets and rugs in your home then they will have to be removed as well. And if you live in a warm area then you may want to open your doors and windows to help keep the air fresh.
Likewise, if the water damage has gotten on your clothes, curtains and bed sheets then you will need to hang them out to dry as soon as possible. Once they are dry, you can send them off the Laundromat for further cleaning, but what matters is that you clean them up as quickly as possible.
If the water has seeped into the wooden and cement areas of your home then you will need to clean up those parts as well. For starters, you can wipe away the water using a dry mop or a piece of cloth. If you have your own air dehumidifier then you should use it to dry these wet materials. Another option is to take an electrical fan, point it at the wet areas then turn it on.
Remember that drywall, wood and unsealed cement are porous materials, so they will only get damaged if you allow them to stay moist for too long. By cleaning away water and moisture, not only will you be able to repair water damages to your property, you can also prevent mildew and mold in the future.
Water Removal After Floods and Persistent Rains
Another common source of water damage are floods and persistent rains. You can’t really do anything about these problems, but you can contain and minimize their effects. For example, if a particularly bad flood covers your living room with water then the best way to contain the problem is to take a mop and a bucket and use them to clear away most of the water inside your property. The same is true with strong and persistent rains. You will need to remove all the rainwater that enters your home.
After you have removed most of the water, you will need to remove the debris that may have been left behind by the flood. This is fairly easy to do and you can get it done with a little help from family and friends.
Next, you will need to dry the affected areas of your home, and unfortunately, you can’t do this on your own. You will need a portable drying device to help you get the job done. Portable drying devices and air dehumidifiers will not only remove most of the excess moisture in your property, they can also prevent the spread of mold and mildew.
Furthermore, they can also provide general air circulation for your property’s interior, thereby allowing your home to dry faster. A standard portable drying device is fairly small and costs around a hundred dollars, so they are fairly affordable. With the help of these devices, you will be able to dry your home quickly and with relatively little effort.
Repairing Damaged Joints
If your pipes’ threaded joints are leaking then you will have to do something about them as soon as possible. Not only are they as problematic as leaking pipes and other sources of water damage, their damage could spread to the rest of your plumbing system. Remember that as joints begin to leak, they also gradually become loose, and when that happens, other parts of your pipes will begin to get damaged.
Fortunately, you can repair your pipe joints on your own. The first step, of course, is to identify the problem and figure out the full extent of the problem. Once you have found the problem, you will need to gather your equipment. These should include tape, epoxy, a wrench and extra bolts.
As with leaking pipes, you will need to turn off the water, before you can start working on your pipe joints. You should also clean them and then dry them off with a piece of cloth.
Next, you will need to tighten the bolts attached to the threaded joints. If some of the bolts are loose or damaged, replace them with the new ones that you brought along. Don’t exert a lot of force when you do this though and make sure that you don’t cause any cracks to the surrounding pipes. After you have tightened or replaced the bolts, apply the epoxy and plumbing tape then observe if the leaks continue.
Fixture Repair
You can’t really repair your fixtures on your own but you can prevent their problems from getting worse until you can call a professional to work on it. To repair a damaged faucet or shower head, you will need to shut off the water, and apply epoxy on the affected area. This will not solve the whole problem but it will give you time.
However, if the damage cannot be repaired using epoxy then you should leave it alone and use other sources of water for the time being. Isolate the damaged fixture and keep it clean until you are able to contact someone who can do the work for you. It’s not an ideal solution but it’s better than allowing the damaged fixture from getting worse and causing further water damage to your property.