How to prevent water damage from your washing machine
If water leaks from your washing machine or one of the hoses that supplies water to the machine bursts, then your home will inevitably be damaged. At first, you may not see any signs of damage and think that maybe the sudden flood of water did not actually damage your home. But most of the damage that is caused by a washing machine leak or overflow will happen below the floor’s surface, and so you will not be aware of it at first.
This water can lead to the growth of mold and bacteria, which can rot wood, as well as other surfaces. If part of your house did get damaged from a washing machine overflow, you should have a water damage restoration specialist come to your house to assess the damage. Don’t put this off, because if you leave the problem alone, the mold can wreak havok on your home.
So, you obviously want to do everything you can to avoid washing machine leaks and overflows in the first place, so that you won’t have repair damage that was totally preventable. There are steps you can take to help prevent washing machine leaks, and routine checks will ensure that the machine is in good working order.
First of all, you will want to check all of the hoses that connect to the washing machine. If the hoses look like they are cracked or rusty, replace them immediately. If you just moved to a new house, you should definitely replace all of the hoses. If any of the hoses were put under pressure or bent during the move, they may start to leak. The last thing you want in your brand new house is a leak that will cause water damage! And if your hoses are not already made of braided steel, you should upgrade them, since braided steel is the most durable type of material for a hose to be made of.
Next, check out the valve that shuts off the water to the washing machine. If the valve is not working prperly, water will drip from it when the machine is off. It is also a good idea to shut off the water supply to your washing machine when you are not using it. When water is constantly flowing through these hoses, it causes pressure to build up within the machine, which can lead to more frequnt breakdowns.
Kent Hamilton is the SEO Expert for www.rightwaycontracting.com – a leading nationwide water damage restoration company specializing in 24/7 emergency service water damage restoration, water damage repair, water damage restoration Atlanta and Southeast, mold remediation, flood damage repair, document drying, fire and smoke damage restoration and crime scene clean up. Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/diy-articles/how-to-prevent-water-damage-from-your-washing-machine-903704.html
Posted: May 7th, 2009 under DIY.