Vacation Prep - Preventing Water Damage

4/10/2019 (Permalink)

As we enter Spring and Summer, vacation season is officially in full swing.  Kids are out of school and the weather is prime for creating family memories.  We all do our best to make sure our home is safe while we are away.  Exterior lighting, security systems and now days even smart phone operated appliances to keep away intruders.  For more of us, water damage never crosses our mind.  Did you know that a ½ inch supply line flows at a rate of 50 gallons of water per minute?  Just for reference, a standard tub holds roughly 80 gallons of water.   Imagine your bathtub completely emptying in your home every 2 minutes!  Just imaging what damage could be done if this happens on the first day of your vacation and you don’t know until you arrive back home days later.  At SERVPRO of Mobile County, we have seen the damage that can ensue.  Not only flooding of the entire footprint of the home, but also mold.  If left untreated, a water loss can cause mold growth to begin in as little as 24-48 hours.  We recommend that as part of your pre-travel checklist, you add turning off the main water supply to your home.  The best way to prevent disaster is to be prepared!