If you opt to ignore moisture damage, or postpone making the necessary repairs, be prepared to experience mold, mildew, dry rot, or even structural damage to your home.  Keep in mind that homeowner’s insurance provides coverage for damage that is sudden and accidental.  Damage that results from lack of maintenance is not covered on a standard homeowners insurance policy.

Clean your gutters at least twice a year to avoid blockage and ice dams. Standing water can cause damage to your gutters and roof, and unmanaged overflow may create puddles that could damage your foundation. Don’t forget to clean downspouts to ensure water can flow through, and secure downspouts so that they point away from the home.

A common causes of water damage are pipes leaking or bursting. In this case, the pipe burst connected to the water heater. Most water heaters hold anywhere from 70 to 100 gallons of water.

Water damage has reached the subfloor forcing the flooring to be removed.

Thriving shrubs can be a beautiful thing – except when their roots wrap around your pipes and break them.  That’s why it’s important to minimize landscaping near utility pipes or, if necessary, remove trees and shrubs that have become too big.