How to prevent water damage at home

Water damage from leaks can significantly affect your home. It can damage the structure and your contents – and any resulting mould can even damage your health.

Even if your home insurance policy provides cover for damage caused by escape of liquid from certain sources, avoiding the hassle of repairs and the potential health hazards is worthwhile.

Fortunately, there are things you can do to reduce the risk of water-related damage at home. 

Detect underground water leaks

These leaks can eat away at your home’s foundation over time. They tend to only become noticeable once they become a big problem.

Chemicals in the soil, incorrect pipes installation and use of low-quality fixtures are common causes of underground leaks. Catching them early can prevent more severe issues and a large repair bill.

Some ways to detect underground leaks are:

• watching your bill and checking your meter for unusual activity
• looking for soggy or wet spots on the ground
• using water leak detectors
• paying attention to the presence of dirt or air flowing from your taps, and
• frequently inspecting your irrigation system.

Detect water leaks around your house

These are some signs to watch out for:

• Unexplainable water bill increases.
• Damp or discoloured spots on walls and ceilings.
• Musty smells.
• Hearing running water when taps are off.

Clear your gutters

Leaf litter and other foreign objects can create blockages in your downpipes and gutters, causing water to overflow and seep into your home's foundations.

Hiring a professional regularly to check that your gutters are clear can save you money and hassle. Twice a year is a good rule of thumb.

Clean your air conditioner filters

Dirty air conditioner filters can stop the airflow and start to freeze. If you live in warmer Australian regions, and if the air conditioner is switched off for a while, any ice that has formed on the filter can melt, potentially causing a leak.

If you have a split system, refer to its manual for instructions on how to clean the filter and maintain the unit, especially as the weather warms up. However, it is generally better to hire professionals to perform any maintenance work.

Check your flexi-hoses

Flexible braided hoses, or flexi-hoses, are rubber hoses reinforced externally with stainless steel webbing and fitted with clamped stainless steel fittings on both ends. They have become a plumbing staple because of their flexibility, low cost, and ease of installation.

You can usually find flexi-hoses connecting taps and other fittings to the main water supply in bathrooms and kitchens. When they leak, they can damage your cabinetry and what's inside it, among other things. 

Prioritise preventive measures to avoid costly repairs. You can do monthly visual checks for any signs of cracking, fraying, corrosion or bulging. But consider hiring a professional to conduct regular inspections of your home's flexi-hoses. 

Consider home and contents insurance

Even if you do your due diligence, a water leak could still occur. Having the right level of home and contents insurance could help with repairs and replacements in such an event, subject to the terms of your policy.

Apia Home and Contents Insurance provides cover for loss or damage caused by escape of liquid. That is, loss or damage caused by liquid leaking, overflowing or bursting from drain pipes, gutters, baths, sinks and toilets, air conditioners, certain appliances and more.

Conditions and exclusions apply. Ensure to check on the condition of your property and its fixtures, fittings and contents as wear, tear, and gradual deterioration or loss or damage due to a gradual process of liquid leaking, splashing, dripping, or overflowing is not covered.

Take a look at the Product Disclosure Statement for more information about what we cover and what’s not covered.

Get a Home and Contents Insurance quote

Read more:

• Common home safety hazards
• How to estimate the amount of home insurance cover you need
• How to prepare for storm season

Australian Pensioners Insurance Agency Pty Ltd (Apia) ABN 14 099 650 996 AR 239591 is an authorised representative of AAI Limited ABN 48 005 297 807 AFSL 230859, the product issuer. Read the Product Disclosure Statement before buying this insurance. The Target Market Determination is also available. The advice has been prepared without taking into account your particular objectives, financial situation or needs, so you should consider whether it is appropriate for you before acting on it. 

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