As winter ends we are all gearing up for spring! With spring in sight you may have the same old ideas of cleaning but this is also a great time to do some preventative maintenance.
As temperatures rise there are many things that we have on our to do list and most of them are not revolving around preventing a water leak. The water spigots outside on your property all have been exposed to the low temperatures. Temperature changes can cause materials to swell and contract. Many people will simply turn on the spigot outside and think little about the possibility of a leak however it is important to check for leaks inside the home when you are running a spigot directly after winter weather because the likelihood that a leak occurs increases due to the temperature changes.
Other preventative maintenance to avoid expensive water damage is to check the hoses on your washing machine as well as the dryers that have the hot water connection. If on an outside wall temperature changes can occur as well but this is more to the west and tear that these hoses take over time. Toilet lines are also ones that wear out and should be inspected annually. A break in one these hoses could unleash a beast of problems if left running without notice this could cause major home damage. These hoses can be found at every major retailer and are an inexpensive solution to a potentially expensive water loss.
Other preventative things to look for are keeping vents open to crawl spaces. Closed vents can lead to moisture build up and stagnant air under a home. Moisture and food source pose well for mold. Keep your vents open at all times unless there are freezing temperatures expected. Proper air flow in the crawl space is apart of the homes design for many reasons and they are to prevent moisture damage. These vents are also designed to keep out unwanted critters so be sure to and keep things secured.
