Protect your home from water damage

What you need to know:

Sseviri advises that one buys and installs a water pressure gauge.

Sometimes our houses can be damaged by water leakages. Thomas Mwesigwa, a construction engineer, says although this happens when the house is old, other times it can be as a result of poor planning during construction.
Francis Sseviri, a plumber with National Water and Sewerage Cooperation, says it is still possible to avoid water damage during and after construction.

Clean gutters
To avoid blockage, it is advisable that one cleans their gutters and downspouts regularly. Sseviri advises that this should be done at least twice a year.
Not doing so, he cautions, would automatically lead to overflow in the house hence leading to damage of the roof and sometimes the walls.

Pipes
Sseviri says galvanised iron metallic pipes can easily rust or get damaged which may in the long run lead to water damage on the walls or even the foundation.
When building, Sseviri advises that one uses poly venal chloride pipes. This is because they are easy to install, strong and durable and, when they eventually reach the end of their service life, they can be recycled back into new pipes
Water detection devices
These are usually small electronic devices that can be installed next to pipes, pumps, washing machines and toilets. “They help detect moisture levels or small leaks that may go unnoticed,” Sseviri says.

Fascia boards
A fascia board is a flat horizontal board usually used to cover up exterior walls. One of its major functions is to avoid damage of the wall. Mwesigwa says to avoid any kind of water damage, one should place a fascia board. He, however, adds that in most cases, this can be placed in places where water can easily reach.

Rain water barrels
These usually help one to easily collect rain water. “Rain water barrels help easily collect rain water hence it being directed to a chosen place of storage,” Mwesigwa says. He, however, advises that these have to be covered to keep them from acting as breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Fix them immediately
To avoid damage, Sseviri advises that an investigation of leaks has to be carried out and fixes made there and then. This, he says, helps avoid damage to some parts of the house. He adds that this can be done with the help of a plumber.

Water pressure
A high water pressure is likely to fail the pipes and hoses.
Sseviri advises that one buys and installs a water pressure gauge. This can help one easily monitor the pressure of water thus help them reduce it to minimal levels.
“Residential water systems are usually designed for water pressure of 40 to 70 psi,” says Sseviri.