Around 75% of household water is used in the bathrooms, so the odds are some of the water could make its way into the floors and walls of your bathroom, causing serious water damage. Before you know it, you could also end up with structural damage and mold problems that would need substantial efforts to repair. Water damage repair is a meticulous, expensive, and lengthy process.
Knowing what to look for to avoid water damage in your bathroom is important if you want to prevent going through the expensive and vigorous process of water damage repair. Let’s take a look at some of the actions you can take to avoid water damage.
Check grout and sealant
The regular prolonged exposure of your sealant and grout to heat and moisture in the bathroom can cause them to crack and wear out. So, make sure you check your sealant and grout regularly to make sure they are free of rot and stains. Also, you can use a cleaning solution to clean the grout when doing chores and dry it carefully when you’re done.
If you noticed that the grout is extensively damaged or missing, you should remove anyone that is worn out and clean the area. Then give it a good dry before installing new grout. That will stop your tiles or fixtures from shifting and prevent rot from spreading.
Look for potential signs of trouble
Water damage normally comes in the form of small issues that may be ignored. For instance, softness or discoloration on the bathroom walls shows a water leak. If the showerhead or pipe in your bathtub drips constantly, you should tighten or replace it. Moreover, constant water leaks will lead to home water damage, but also higher water bills. It could also lead to the growth of dangerous bacteria and the growth of mold.
If the drain in the shower cubicles doesn’t empty well, it could be as the result of a blockage. Mildew or mold growth is also a sign of severe moisture issues. So, you need to make sure your exhaust fan is effective in removing moisture and heat from your bathroom.
Check your exhaust
Make sure you turn on your exhaust fan each time you use the shower or tub and let it run for a while afterward. In fact, some states require that landlords install an exhaust in the bathroom. So, if your exhaust fan is broken, try to find out your rights and have the landlord install one or fix it.
If you have bought your house, the responsibility is on you to have a fan that is working. At the very least, you need to have a bathroom window closer to the shower that you can open, or you can put various sizes of the dehumidifier in the bathroom. With that said, the exhaust fan is the best option as it removes the most odors and moisture no matter what the weather is outside your home.
Damaged floors
The bathroom floors are designed in a way that they will be covered in water so that they will be in good condition unless there is a leak. But if there is moisture below the floor, it will cause buckling, cracking, and staining. So, if you see any of these signs, you need to take action immediately.
In most cases, the subfloor of bathrooms is made from plywood, which starts to rot when exposed to moisture. The plywood floor will become softer gradually, maybe even somewhat spongy and unstable. You need to locate the source of the moisture and repair it immediately, or you will soon require a water damage cleanup in your home.
Leaky toilets
There are several reasons why a toilet could leak. There are floor flanges, valves, tank and bowl connections, gaskets, and more that could leak. And you may need to get some help whenever you notice any leak from these sources. However, there is a silicone caulk that could need sealing around the toilet base, so make sure you also check that regularly.
It is important to check because splashed water, pooling, and toilet leaks can find its way under your subfloor and toilet. You can also keep a space open at the back of the toilet base so that any potential leaks will show themselves instead of being sealed completely and damage your bathroom to the point where you may spend more to repair.
Conclusion
There are always chances that you will experience water damage in your bathroom. But with the tips we discussed above, you can protect your bathroom from water damage. So, make sure you keep a close eye on things in your bathroom or get a contractor like Brisbane your building inspections. With that, it will be easier for you to handle any water problem than wait for full-blown water damage.
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