In many cases of water damage, the fact that you have it is quite apparent. A flooded basement, raw sewage in your kitchen, and festering mold infestations are some pretty sure signs that something is definitely wrong in Denmark (or wherever your home happens to be located).

If you have surefire evidence of water damage, it is fairly easy to proceed with the clean up and restoration process. Unfortunately, not all water damage is readily apparent, and many times it is the unseen that can cause the most issues. So how do you make sure that water damage isn’t a problem in your home? How do you protect yourself against such an unseen enemy.

Inspect your exterior. Make sure all gutters and downspouts are functioning properly. An easy way to note damage is if you see a straight line of erosion in the soil just below your gutters. Also, check the gutters while it's raining. Are they draining as they should? Are blockages from leaves and debris causing them to overflow? Mr. Popham suggests leaf protection on all home gutters.
Inspect your interior. Wet carpet can sometimes be hard to detect. Check for seepage at the exterior edges of all carpet for dampness or water. If you do find damage, and you have padding under your carpet, do not assuming "drying" is enough. Mr. Popham suggests cutting out the padding under carpeting and replacing it, to avoid fowl smells and mold or mildew. He also suggests dehumidifiers for all basements.
Insure against future problems. A tip for keeping water out of your house, is to insure "positive" drainage, which means, insuring water drains away from your house, versus pooling next to it. Fill in holes or gaps near your home and angle the ground away from your house and if you own a sump system, maintain it yearly. An emergency battery backup system is also recommended.
Call the pros. Your local IICRC certified water damage restoration professional is available 24/7/365, with a full staff of trained technicians, the most up to date equipment and procedures, and a full range of services from water extraction and drying, to carpet cleaning and mold removal, as well as structural repair and restoration.

Water damage may be a straightforward and invasive enemy or it may undertake more covert operations, but wither way, the threat to your home or business is considerable. Take appropriate steps to protect your interests now.

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