At Restoration Now!, we realize that the washing machine and the water heater are must-have appliances in anyone’s home, and as with any machine that makes life easier or more comfortable, a number of water damage problems can arise when they inevitably break down. A broken supply hose on a washing machine (one of the most common issues with aging washers) can leak up to 600 gallons of water in an hour!

Everyone knows the cliché—some schmoe who’s never washed clothes before ends up breaking the washing machine and before you know it the laundry room is filling with water and suds, the hapless homeowner left sloshing around in the aftermath as we laugh at his feeble attempts to fix the problem. It’s a funny situation on a number of levels…that is, until it happens to you.

When something like this happens to you, you don’t want to be that schmoe. You want a local partner you can rely on, with years of experience in water damage mitigation and property restoration, someone like Restoration Now!. We work quickly and efficiently to detect and remove the water that’s visible as well as that which may have seeped to other hidden locations in your house, and using sophisticated drying techniques we can restore your property to its original state.

Preventative Maintenance for Your Washing Machine

As always, our water damage clean-up and property restoration team here at Restoration Now! Omaha hopes that you’ll be able to avoid a situation like this, and the best way to ensure that is through preventative maintenance. Here are some tips to prevent a washing machine supply hose failure:

• Make sure there’s at least four inches between the water connection and the back of the washing machine—this helps to prevent kinks in the hose which over time can cause weak points that are likely to break.
• We know nobody likes going back into the dark dusty abyss behind the washing machine, but make a point to do it regularly so you can check those hoses for signs of wear and secure connections.
• Don’t buy cheap hoses. Spending the bit of extra money now may save you a bundle later (in money, stress and headaches that come from standing shin-deep in water).
• This is a no-brainer that many people don’t follow—don’t leave the washing machine on when you’re sleeping or not at home. Remember that a broken hose can leak 600 gallons in an hour, and you definitely don’t want to A) wake up in a swimming pool, or B) come back home to a wall of water behind your front door.

Avoiding Water Heater Disaster

Many people tend to forget that their water heater even exists, which is a pretty natural thing. If an appliance does its job and does it well, it tends not to draw attention to itself—and the water heater, that loyal if invisible workhorse of the basement or closet, definitely fits that bill. That being said, however, it would be a mistake not to check up on it every so often. Simply checking for damage on a regular basis can save you from major headaches down the road.

• The average water heater is 13 years old. As soon as your water heater reaches its 10th birthday, you should start regularly checking for signs of damage and overt leaking in its collection tray and around the unit itself.
• Examine the pipes and connections to and from the water heater for signs of corrosion, leaks, or build-up.
• If the unit is making strange noises, pay attention! These can be the clearest sign that something isn’t right.

Contact Restoration Now! Omaha at (402) 502-7277, Your Local Water Damage Specialist

Hopefully these tips will help to make you more aware of the appliances in your home that could potentially cause you stressful and expensive problems down the line. With a bit of regular attention and maintenance, many issues caused by these appliances can be avoided, but if you happen to find yourself up the proverbial creek, you can count on Restoration Now! to provide quick and attentive water damage mitigation and property restoration services. We offer 24/7 emergency service, so contact us today at (402) 502-7277 to get started!