Everyone loves getting together with friends and family for the holidays. This can mean hosting large events in your home, as well as extended get-togethers. Due to the extra people in your home, you have the potential for water damage unless you are careful. Don’t let your holidays become a mess. Instead, follow these tips for avoiding water damage caused by guests.
Be Pro-Active
- Check your home for issues before guests arrive, with enough time to fix them if needed
- Locate your water shut-off valve, usually in the front yard and on the same side as your water meter
- Save our number to remember if you need it in an emergency.
Appliances
A big meal is over, and your guests want to help you with the dishes. Or, perhaps you have long-term guests who need to do a load of laundry. However, no house guest means to cause a flood; not knowing how your appliances work can cause problems. Remember, not every appliance works the same. That’s why you should take time to explain to guests how your appliances work. This can keep the confusion, errors, and watery mess to a minimum. Be sure to let them know of any idiosyncrasies as well. Make sure your guests know if your dishwasher is finicky about the kind of soap or your washing machine leaks when on an extra-large load. Appliances that can cause flooding include:
- Washing machine
- Dishwasher
- Ice maker
- Garbage disposal
Bathrooms
The restoration in your house is rated for a specific occupancy, usually based on the number of bedrooms your home has. However, with guests staying for an extended time, your restoration will handle many showers, toilet flushing, washed dishes, and laundry. This can easily lead to problems with drains and toilets. If your drains or toilets overflow, not only can this be messy and unsanitary, but it can also cause water damage. Let guests know to tell you if there has been a problem so you can do what needs to be done. Otherwise, your holidays may end with a call to us for water restoration services.
Accidents Happen
In many cases, water damage occurs due to accidents. The more people you have in the home, the more likely an accident will occur. Talk with your guests about looking out for the following:
- Bathtub overflowing
- Forgetting to turn off the water in the sink
- Washing machine overflow
Although accidents may happen, following the tips above will lower your water damage risk. However, if you do have water damage, be sure to take the right steps immediately. Why? Mold can begin growing in just 24 hours, so the longer you wait, the more damage you’ll have. We hope you’ll have a wonderful holiday season without any accidents. Nonetheless, if water damage occurs, contact Mr. Restore immediately. With over 50 years of experience, we will help with all your water restoration needs.
