Types of Property Damage Homeowners Face

Being a homeowner is not without its risk. There’s a lot of potential hazards that homeowners have to protect their properties from, and unfortunately, many of these are commonly misunderstood. There are also a lot of myths and misconceptions surrounding information on how to protect your house from property damage. But it’s critical to understand the truth from the lies in order to make sure you’re keeping your house as safe as possible.

Let’s take a look at the most common forms of property damage and other risks that our houses are prone to.

Water Damage

Water leaks can get to different parts of your house undetected, and when left for days or even weeks on end, can lead to dangerous results. It can promote the growth of mold, rust, and even damage the laminate of some materials like wood. Finding out where the problem comes from is critical to prevent the issue from getting worse.

When we think of water damage, we often associate it with torrential rain or hurricanes. However, the weather isn’t the only source of water damage. It can also come from plumbing-related problems, like a clogged pipe or drain, broken valves and faucets, and even appliances like a water heater or air conditioner.

Sinks, toilets, washing machines, and refrigerators are suspected of leaks that, when left unchecked, can lead to severe water damage. This is why an emergency plumber or technician is important. The moment you see something that requires fixing, it’s best to go ahead and have it fixed.

Weather-Related Damage

However, weather-caused damages still play a major role in most property damages. It’s normally a mixture of different natural elements, but let’s take a look at the most common one.

Heavy Rain. Besides causing damage to the interior of your home, heavy rainfall will also most likely damage your exterior. Dislodged gutters, leaking roofs, or even flooded porches and patios are common scenarios caused by heavy rain.

Hail. Not all locations are affected by hail, but when yours is, it’s hard to avoid it. It can damage roofs, windows, outdoor floorings, plants, and even your car. The only way to truly mitigate the damages of hail is through strong roofs and other building materials.

Wind. This is perhaps one of the most common causes of damage in most homes. Strong winds can cause branches to fall on your roof and gutter, and on some occasions, even uproot trees. Keeping trees regularly pruned and managed is a way to make sure there are fewer chances of the wind picking up debris to hit your home.

Heat. High temperatures can also lead to property damage, specifically the painting on the exterior of your home. Extreme heat can cause flaking or chipping of the paint, which can then lead to moisture issues that will eventually affect the interior of your home.

Theft and Criminal Activity

Burglary, robbery, trespassing, and other crimes are things we never want to happen to us but the fact remains that there’s still a significant chance of them happening. It’s important to make your house as crime-deterrent as possible. Utilizing close-circuit televisions or CCTVs, alongside motion sensors, and other alarm systems are effective in discouraging criminals. And in the event that a crime does occur, you would have means of securing evidence for it.

However, there are also simpler ways to discourage criminals and wrong-doers, and that’s largely by making your house feel busy. Utilizing outdoor lighting to reduce blind spots, and making sure that somebody is always available at home, are two effective ways to prevent crime.

Lightning and Fire

Even if fires are least likely to happen in most homes, the gravity and danger that it poses are enough to merit constant vigilance against them. In 2020 alone, almost half a million residential fires were reported, coming up to around $9 billion in property damages. It’s one of the most devastating accidents that can happen, and will most definitely disrupt any victim’s life. Make sure your home has fire alarms and sensors, with sprinklers ready to suppress any potential house fire.

Making sure that fire extinguishers are available is also critical. Fire extinguishers should be placed in locations that can cause fires, such as kitchens, bedrooms, and living rooms.

Protecting your house from damages is part of any homeowner’s responsibility. It’s not just about keeping your house safe- it’s also about keeping you and your family, alongside your most important possessions safe. Hopefully, this list provides you with useful information to ensure the safety and protection of your home.