The best way to prevent water damage is to inspect both the interior and exterior of your home. lt’s not enough to be a water detective. You also need to perform regular maintenance to keep everything watertight. For safety’s sake, enlist the help of a contractor or some of the bigger projects, rather than put yourself in harm’s way.

Thinking outside the home: exterior problems and fixes

Water damage should really be a year-round concern.

Check the land around your home to see if it is graded properly. Proper grading allows for water and moisture to flow away from your home’s exterior walls. If you’re unsure, ask a contractor to check and correct the problem.

Keep your eaves clean and clear. Eaves are meant to funnel water from your roof to your downspout. If they’re clogged with leaves or other debris, water isn’t being funneled away from your home. Cleaning eaves can be dangerous. So be cautious and consider calling a roofing or eaves-cleaning company to do it for you.

Check the direction of your downspout. If your eaves are clear and water is flowing into your downspout, ensure it is directed away from your home.

Expert tip: Some people forget to check their neighbour’s downspout. If it’s directed toward your home, have a discussion with your neighbour about having it shifted.

Keep anything wet away from your home’s exterior walls. While you’re shoveling snow in the winter, clear a path around your home’s exterior walls. During other months, never pile wet leaves or garden soil close to your home.

Expert tip: Shut off your exterior water spout during the winter months. This will help prevent it from freezing.

Have any roof problems repaired. Even one shifted shingle can cause a leak. You also want to check that any exterior vents on your roof or soffit are clear. Since warm air rises and collects in your attic, it must be vented properly. If not, or if the insulation isn’t sufficient, you could get mould growth on your rafters and/or the underside of the roof decking.

Expert tip:During the winter, check both your home and your neighbour’s for icicles hanging off the roof. If yours is the only home that has icicles, it may mean that you have a problem with attic ventilation.

Ensure doors and windows are sealed properly. You may need to caulk the exterior of your doors and windows - particularly those with wood frames - to keep them watertight. This is fairly easy to do and can be done by just about any homeowner.

Cracks, leaks and bulges: interior problems and fixes

Take regular tours of the interior of your home and do a water check. Try to stick to a regular schedule. For example, twice a year when you change the clocks to daylight savings time.

Feel your basement walls. If you notice dampness, stains, mould, flaked mortar or concrete or discoloured areas on your walls, have the problem inspected and fixed as soon as possible. This applies especially to unfinished basements.

Expert tip: If you have a sump pump in your basement, make sure it’s working properly and that water isn’t backing up.

Inspect your furnace, humidifier and hot water heater. These need to be checked regularly for safety reasons but also to see if they’re leaking water. If you are renting this equipment, check to see if regular professional maintenance is included in the rental fee.

Check for loose tiles in the bathroom, kitchen and laundry room. Bulging tiles can be a sign of water damage. Also, if the grout between the tiles is worn, or if tiles are becoming loose, repair them immediately.

Mind your toilet tank. While it’s a good idea to save water by inserting filled water bottles or even bricks in your toilet tank, you want to make sure they aren’t preventing the float valve from closing properly. This will cause water to run continuously and can cause water damage.

Check the state of your hoses. A worn, bulging or cracked hose from your dishwasher or washing machine is a bad sign. Better to replace it than risk a water spill.

Keep indoor plants from leaking. A common mistake is to place household plants on a hardwood floor without a saucer to collect water. While this may seem like a minor detail, a little watermark can cost a lot to repair.

When water damages your home

If you come home to a flooded basement or notice a large water stain or blister, call a professional contractor before taking any steps yourself. Often, eager homeowners cause more damage when they try to fix things.

In general, a homeowner’s fix can only be a band-aid solution to a bigger problem. It’s important to get things repaired properly and expertly

This article has been provided by Michael Yuffa, owner of Waterworks Plumbing.