Many of the essential, recommended tasks surrounding National Preparedness Month center around the safety of you and your household members. Creating an emergency action plan, gathering items for an emergency kit, and establishing lines of communication are all crucial for keeping safe in a disaster.
A few simple tasks can also help protect your property but are often overlooked amid more common household maintenance duties.
Locate Your Main Water Valve
Water damage from leaks or other emergency situations can escalate from bad to worse quickly, and the best way to prevent severe damage is to shut off the water supply to your house. Preparation is a must: knowing where to find the valve is half the battle in preventing a disaster. The valve's location differs from property to property, so consulting with a neighbor or friend may not provide you with an answer as to its whereabouts.
Start with the outer perimeter of your house and look for the point where the main water line comes into the wall. The valve may be at that spot or located within the house where it joins the plumbing, such as underneath the bathroom or kitchen sink. As a last resort, the utility box at the street may house the valve, though this may require your utility company’s help in turning on and off the valve.
Once found, most main water valves have a clear handle that can easily be gripped and turned. If you need to turn the water off in an emergency, turn the valve to the right. Turn left to start the water again.
Remember to put a water shutoff tag on the valve so it is easily identifiable in an emergency. Tags can be purchased online at various hardware or home improvement sites, or can be provided free of charge by ServiceMaster DSI.
Test Your Sump Pump
A sump pump is a piece of mechanical equipment found at the lowest point in a building that protects the space from water damage by moving water from under the foundation, within crawlspaces and in basements out to a place far from the property. If your house or building is located in an area prone to heavy rain, snow or near a large body of water, there is a good possibility that you have a sump pump or are an ideal candidate for needing one.
It is important to keep your sump pump performing well. While it is typically triggered at the onset of heavy rain, it can also perform regular water removal as moisture builds under your foundation, reducing the risk of structural damage and mold.
Ideally, you should test your sump pump a few times a year. Testing it when replacing an HVAC filter is a good rule of thumb. It only takes about 5 minutes to inspect in three easy steps:
- Clean the pump and pipes. Start outside your home or building and clean the area around the exterior pipes to prevent clogs. Then, find your sump pump in the basement and remove any debris under the pump’s lid and clean inside that area.
- Check the power. Most pumps have two cords, one to power the float and one to power the pump. Detach both cords and plug in the pump cord only. Make sure you can hear the pump motor running. If you do, reconnect both cords and plug them into the outlet again.
- Test the sump pump. Get a five-gallon bucket and fill it with water. Pour enough in to activate the float mechanism and activate the pump. If the pump motor does not work or continues running after the water has been pumped out, you must call a plumber. If the pump does appear to function well, repeat the process once more to complete the test.
Consider getting a backup battery for the sump pump. If heavy rain conditions bring on a power outage, your pump will not work. The backup battery will ensure your pump remains running.
Review and Update Your Home Insurance Policy
National Preparedness Month is a good time to review your insurance policy, particularly if there have been changes over the last year or two, such as home renovations. If you experience a disaster, knowing what is covered and what is not will help you recover faster and better anticipate the restoration process. Key steps and points to consider are:
- Determine how much coverage you need. A good idea is to use your area's recent per-square-foot replacement costs, as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners advised. Consult with your local homebuilder’s association for information.
- Ascertain if your area is prone to natural disasters. Supplemental coverage may be necessary for areas with a higher risk of floods, earthquakes and landslides.
- Renovations or remodeling can either increase or lower the cost of your insurance, depending on what was done.
- Keep up with yearly maintenance of your home appliances. Poorly maintained or ignored HVAC units and water heaters are potential water and fire damage sources.
- Take a home inventory. An updated and well-organized list of valuables can help with insurance claims if a disaster does happen.
Find and download a home inventory app to expedite the process and easily keep track of serial numbers and other pertinent details.
Despite the best preparations, the unexpected can happen. In the event a disaster causes damage to your home, you’ll want to find professional experts who can help. The experts at ServiceMaster DSI work directly with insurance providers during repairs to help you navigate the claims process and are also there to help clean up and restore your property.
For more information, contact us at 844-413-3130. We are ready to respond 24/7/365.
