Water is without a doubt one of the biggest causes of property damage in both residential and commercial settings. According to the latest figures, you’re 10 times more likely to experience damage to your property as a result of water than you are from fire. Water actually accounts for a whopping 40% of all property damage, with an estimated one-third of homeowners insurance claims being those for water damage. In addition to the damage it causes, water often encourages mold growth on walls, floors, basement, attics, ductwork, crawl spaces and other areas, causing damage and leading to health problems.

Keep Disaster at Bay with a Water Leak Detection System

Early leak detection in your home is your best defense in minimizing the costly and damaging effects of water in your home. Leak detection also prevents mold and the health hazards associated with mold growth.

Failure to detect a leak early enough could lead to flooding home. A flooded home and the resulting water damage can compromise the structural integrity of your building and create unsafe living and/or working conditions, thus causing a need for extensive, costly repairs.

In addition to causing water damage in your property, water leaks that go undetected for a while can lead to the growth and proliferation of toxic mold. Mold typically spreads quickly from one area of the building to other areas and may end up costing you thousands of dollars in professional mold removal services. In the meantime, the presence of toxic black mold in your home greatly raises your risk for health problems, including allergic reactions, respiratory infections and disorders, muscle and joint pain, migraines, and even gastrointestinal problems.

Serious or extensive mold infestations typically require specialist treatment. Mold removal specialists can charge anywhere between $500 and $3000. Add to that the cost of draining out water from the water leakage or flooded basement as well as repairing water damage and you may easily end up with a massive, unmanageable bill. That’s why it is of utmost importance that you think of methods to limit chance of water leaks in your property.

You can protect your home and your family and also save yourself a lot of headache and money in the future by installing a water leak detection system in your property. This device can be installed by a professional plumber to alert you if there is a water leak in your home or commercial building, preventing costly water damage and mold growth.

What is a Water Leak Detector

A water leak detector is a highly advanced device that is designed to monitor all water-using appliances and plumbing fixtures in your home, including: water lines (pipes), water heater tanks, water filtration systems, ice maker lines, washing machines, toilets, and any other plumbing fixture that may experience a leak. This system not only alerts you if there is a water leak in your property, but also shuts off the water at the first sign of leakage, thereby preventing losses from both slow leaks and forceful types of water damage. Professional plumber contractors are highly skilled and experienced with installing custom leak detection systems or water damage loss mitigation devices that can detect even the smallest water leakage events. It’s worth noting that even a small leak can escalate into a major water intrusion event that has the potential to cause release of hundreds of gallons of water, which could flood into structural, mechanical and electrical systems leading to catastrophic dollar losses.

How a Water Leak Detector Works

A water leak detector works just like a smoke alarm. But instead of smoke, a water leak detection device comes with a sensor that detects the presence of water. Most systems feature an audible alarm that alerts you in the event of a leak. Some advanced models can also be programmed to alert you by email or text message if a leak occurs, while others can be connected to smart home systems to automatically shut off the water valve in the event a leak is detected. Such a proactive system can be extremely useful if a water leak occurs while you’re not at home. Nonetheless, a simple water leak detection system with an audible alarm works well enough for many homes and businesses, and is affordable even for those on a budget.

As temperatures begin to soar and the warmest days of the year are just ahead, a San Diego Flood Restoration company warns that this is a good time to protect one’s home from water damage by checking for air conditioner floods.

Air Conditioner Floods: What Your San Diego Water Damage Specialist Has to Say

“Air conditioner floods  or leak is much more common than someone might think” says Joe Colombo, owner of Gold Coast Flood Restorations. “Condensation leaks can create a lot of water damage, this is because they often go unnoticed. Many leaks are hidden by walls or they are in low traffic areas, and frequently the leak is not spotted until somebody sees a visible spot on the walls or feels a wet spot on the carpet.”

The elevated humidity and dark space around the condensation lines may also make them prone to mold growth. As the mold grows, it gets distributed through the air conditioning unit or HVAC system to the remainder of the home. Mold growth within the home can be very devastating. If left unchecked, mold can cause major structural damage to a home as well as be a health hazard.

There are two kinds of black mold, or “toxic mold”, Stachybotrys and Memmoniella, that present a very significant risk to people’s health and wellness. These types of molds have a black and slimy appearance. They can flourish from where water has already saturated into wood, rugs and carpets, furnishings or other building materials. It is essential to have any type of black mold, that is found in the home, tested to establish what level of danger it may present. Inhaling or handling black mold can come with some really considerable health consequences.

“It is important that when one sees or smells mold, that they call a professional  mold remediation company right away. Certainly there are many circumstances when ‘doing-it-yourself’ can be good for maintaining your health and home. Removing mold yourself … is not one of those times,” according to Colombo.

Anytime one spots any water coming out from the air-conditioning system, one must never ever presume that the system is running properly. Many times, the leaking water from the system will show that some part inside the air-conditioning unit has malfunctioned.

The most important thing one can do to prevent an air conditioning condensation line leak is to inspect it regularly, especially during high usage.  Even a very small sign of condensation could signal a much larger problem.

Should they find an air conditioner floods, a water leak or the presence of mold in your home, contact the professionals at Gold Coast Flood Restorations. Click Here.  They have been servicing San Diego and the surrounding area for over 25 years, 24 hours per day and 7 days per week. Please call the Gold Coast Flood Restorations hotline for water damage repairs at 888-373-9243 to schedule a knowledgeable technician to come evaluate the damage to the home.