Water damage can significantly damage your home and possessions. Repairing and replacing these items can be very costly. There are a lot of things that can cause water damage in your home. However, being aware of the most common causes can help you put some preventative measures into place to protect your home. Here are the four most common causes of water damage in Columbus, Ohio homes.

1. Slow Water BuildUp

We often think of water damage happening because of one big thing like from a flood. However, the most common cause of water damage is a slow buildup. There are a number of things that can lead to slow water build-up. Small leaks that drip are often a culprit. Excess moisture in the home from cracks in the walls or broken seals around windows and doors. These often don’t have any obvious signs until it is too late. Slow water build-up also has a high risk of causing pests and mold as well.

2. Wet And Inclement Weather

Columbus has all four seasons, so we can experience a lot of different kinds of inclement weather. Floods from heavy rains can lead to flooding which causes water damage. Snow and ice melts can also cause flooding. Further, it gets really humid in the summers here which can lead to an excess build-up of moisture in our homes. Over time excess humidity can lead to the slow build-up of moisture. This moisture can then cause water damage inside your home.

3. Faulty Or Broken Appliances

Most of the appliances in our homes use water including dishwashers, laundry machines, and refrigerators. When these appliances fail, they can cause a lot of water damage. This damage can happen all at once say if the drainage host on your washing machine breaks and all the water drains out into your home. It can also happen slowly when the drainage hose has a small leak that drips.

4. Busted Pipes

Another common cause of water damage is broken or busted pipes. This happens most frequently in the wintertime. Pipes can freeze and burst. However, busted pipes can also happen from clogs where the pressure builds up over time causing it to burst. It can also happen when there are leaks that build-up over time but then eventually burst. When this happens the water damage can be severe because the water main will continue running, increasing the flooding until it is shut off.

If you stay vigilant, for the most part these things can be prevented. However, even if you are really diligent with your home maintenance, water damage can still happen. In those times, we’re here to help. The team at Dry Patrol has six certifications from the IICRC and will help no matter how severe the water damage. Give us a call, day or night. We’re available night and day to help with flooding and water damage.