Water Damage In The Bathroom – What You Need To Do
Wet spots on the ceiling, puddles of water on the floor, or a downright flood: water damage can have many faces. If you discover water damage in your bathroom or apartment, you should Immediately minimize the damage.
- Block off the water supply (in the event of acute water damage, for example, due to a broken pipe): You should turn off the stop cocks so that the damage does not get worse. If that doesn’t help, turn off the main water tap.
- Interrupt the power supply: Remove the fuses to avoid a short circuit and subsequent fires. Remove electrical appliances from the bathroom.
- Eliminate the water: You can remove smaller puddles yourself with a rag and bucket. Larger pools can be removed with a wet vacuum or pumps. On the other hand, in the case of huge amounts of water, you have to call the specialist.
- Save the inventory: If furniture, electrical appliances, or textiles such as curtains or carpets are affected by water damage, remove them from the wet area and dry them.
- Document the damage: Take a good picture of the damage. Take enough photos and also record details. You can later show the pictures to the insurance company or, if necessary, to the house owner.
Causes of Water Damage
Typical causes of water damage include:
- Burst pipe
- defective sewer pipes
- penetrating rain on roofs
- Flooding after heavy rain
- leaking fittings
- leaky joints
- defective radiators
- burst washing machine or dishwasher hoses
- Construction defects, poor insulation
It is not always immediately clear what triggered water damage in the first place. In such cases, experts can use measuring equipment and tools to locate the leak. You should pipe and drain or find suitable specialist companies that you can contact in the event of water damage on this interactive.
Prevention Is Better Than Aftercare: To avoid water damage in the first place, your washing machine and dishwasher should only be used when you are at home. In older buildings, it is also advisable to have the pipes checked regularly by specialists to prevent pipe ruptures. As a do-it-yourselfer, you should be careful not to drill too deeply into the wall – pipes often burst because a water-bearing pipe is caught while drilling.
In the bathroom, you should also regularly check the wall connections of the shower tray, bathtub, plumbing system and washbasin to the wall and the tiles: because the seals can become porous over time. Renew the silicone joints if they are the cause (or have them renewed).
