Tips for Preventing Leaks from State Farm
State Farm Insurance is the leader in life, auto and home insurance, and they have been providing consumers with home and fire insurance policies since 1922. In that time, State Farm has learned a lot about the major causes of leaks in American homes. State Farm Insurance would like to provide home owners with some precautions that they can take in order to avoid leaks, and avoid the cost of those leaks. Since ongoing leaks are not covered by most insurance policies, whether they’re from State Farm or not, these precautions can save a lot of money.
State Farm recommends the following preventative measures for home owners:
* Avoid putting too much toilet paper in the bowl or placing any other inappropriate objects in the bowl, such as hanging deodorants and chlorine tablet cleaners. They can accidentally clog toilets, which State Farm reports as one of the biggest causes of leaks
* Check the water supply lines for wetness, bulging hoses and other signs of deterioration on all of those major appliances regularly
* Install hot water heaters next to a floor drain on the lowest levels of the home
* Install water leak detection systems on all your major appliances to monitor leaks, including refrigerators, washing machines and hot water heaters
* Make sure the air conditioning systems are serviced annually
* Replace water heaters every eight to 12 years
* Unclog drains if the pipes appear to be draining slowly, and check the pipes under the sinks for leaks.
State Farm Insurance has developed a Building Technology Research (BTR) lab in order to assist home owners in maintaining safer and stronger homes. The State Farm lab tests building materials and appliances for weather conditions such as hailstorms and hurricanes, as well as other events like fire and water damage. Part of this State Farm program is identifying weak spots in homes for leaks, and educating people about how they can prevent this.