Stepping into the spring season can serve as a reset for the home. In addition to spring cleaning, homeowners should take a moment to evaluate their spaces and ensure there are no structural issues, which can pose a much greater threat to the home's health and safety. Often, these seasonal reviews should focus on areas where moisture may be harbored, as left unaddressed, water can be one of the most dangerous variables in your home.
"These things are usually sudden and accidental, so there aren’t really warning signs," said UWRG Field Supervisor Zsolt Janocsik of UWRG Toronto. "Damage can be hidden because you can’t always see what’s behind the walls. We just had a customer whose copper pipe was strapped directly to the foundation. There was no insulation behind it. And there’s no way you can predict that or prevent it."
For teams at United Water Restoration Group, a 50-plus-location restoration franchise, spring is a time to check for repercussions of any winter leaks or burst pipes, improper water diversion and ground saturation to ensure water isn’t collecting somewhere it shouldn’t be.
A proper review takes a step back. Unlike sudden, obvious increases in moisture due to spring rains, winter water damage is often a quieter process that can go unnoticed for months. Because of this, homeowners should make a concerted effort to search for these issues once it begins warming back up to ensure there is no invisible winter water damage.
Because these issues are tucked away, it’s highly likely a homeowner wouldn't notice a leak the moment it occurs. Rather, they must rely on visual cues that something is wrong.
Complete a survey of the home once winter is over for the key warning signs: discoloration and wrinkled paint. These generally indicate that a slow drip has been taking place for some time. Once a spot is visible to the naked eye, the moisture has likely spread much further than the surface suggests. An intentional review for even small spots can help you catch issues before they become even more serious.
Once a retroactive review is complete, homeowners can begin to think about the “now.” Issues related to external moisture (and efforts to keep it out) are often straightforward and addressable through basic outdoor maintenance.
Keeping water away from the structure itself is a strong first line of defense. This means cleaning gutters of any leaf litter left from fall and ensuring downspouts are functioning properly, moving water away from the home. This way, when spring showers come, your home is functioning properly and working to ensure water isn’t pooling against your first-level walls.
Just as you should evaluate the home for any existing damage from winter freezes, it’s smart to stay vigilant throughout the spring season. Even if your gutters and downspouts were doing their jobs at the start of the season, do an occasional check. For example, if you notice puddles close to your home after a rainy day, give it some thought. This standing water could be slowly seeping in and triggering water damage indoors.
While awareness as a homeowner is an important baseline, it’s just as crucial to know when to call the professionals. If you notice standing water, discoloration, irregularly high indoor humidity or water where you don’t expect it indoors, you should likely call a professional.
The DIY approach often falls short because it just can’t account for what’s actually happening inside the structure. This is where UWRG franchise owners provide a level of certainty that neither a flashlight nor a ladder can match. Using thermal imaging cameras, specialists can see the exact footprint of trapped moisture within a wall, out of view to the naked eye.
"The best way to check is with a thermal imaging camera,” Janocsik said. “Because it shows the whole outline of the water damage, not just the small spot you can see.”
By pairing such cameras with moisture meters, professional restoration experts can assess whether the moisture levels in drywall have climbed above the standard 10% or 15% range. If the meter reads above 25%, a serious problem is confirmed, allowing the restoration team to address the root cause before rot or mold forms.
For most people, the home is the single largest investment they’ll ever make. While it can be tempting to ignore a small drip under a cabinet or a faint spot on the ceiling, procrastination is the enemy of a healthy home.
"Once you see something unusual, you should act on it," Janocsik said. "We see rotten cabinets because something has been dripping underneath a kitchen cabinet, and people don’t care about it. They think it’s just a drip. But after months and months, it can rot the whole cabinet."
Whether it’s testing a sump pump by dumping a bucket of water into the pit or simply running the furnace fan to keep air circulating, small habits can make a profound difference. But, when those habits aren’t enough, UWRG stands as a local resource that can help ensure a winter mishap doesn’t become a costly, permanent headache.
About United Water Restoration Group
Since 2008, United Water Restoration Group (UWRG) has helped thousands of home and business owners restore properties to pre-loss condition. Through a commitment to excellence and a focus on personal attention, clients’ expectations are exceeded every time, without exception. Today, with a philosophy of hiring the best staff to provide professional restoration services, UWRG has grown to more than 50 locations and maintains a level of customer service rarely seen in the industry. Although UWRG assists those experiencing disasters, this growing, recession-proof industry is also supported by fundamental infrastructure issues like aging systems and reconstruction.
The initial investment to open and begin operation ranges from $300,000 - $700,000. For more information on franchising, visit https://uwrgfranchise.com/investment-opportunities/.
United Water Restoration Group
SPONSORED
United Water Restoration Group Field Supervisor Zsolt Janocsik explains how homeowners can identify signs of water damage beyond frozen pipes season and protect their property from costly damage.
Stepping into the spring season can serve as a reset for the home. In addition to spring cleaning, homeowners should take a moment to evaluate their spaces and ensure there are no structural issues, which can pose a much greater threat to the home's health and safety. Often, these seasonal reviews should focus on areas where moisture may be harbored, as left unaddressed, water can be one of the most dangerous variables in your home.
"These things are usually sudden and accidental, so there aren’t really warning signs," said UWRG Field Supervisor Zsolt Janocsik of UWRG Toronto. "Damage can be hidden because you can’t always see what’s behind the walls. We just had a customer whose copper pipe was strapped directly to the foundation. There was no insulation behind it. And there’s no way you can predict that or prevent it."
For teams at United Water Restoration Group, a 50-plus-location restoration franchise, spring is a time to check for repercussions of any winter leaks or burst pipes, improper water diversion and ground saturation to ensure water isn’t collecting somewhere it shouldn’t be.
A proper review takes a step back. Unlike sudden, obvious increases in moisture due to spring rains, winter water damage is often a quieter process that can go unnoticed for months. Because of this, homeowners should make a concerted effort to search for these issues once it begins warming back up to ensure there is no invisible winter water damage.
Because these issues are tucked away, it’s highly likely a homeowner wouldn't notice a leak the moment it occurs. Rather, they must rely on visual cues that something is wrong.
Complete a survey of the home once winter is over for the key warning signs: discoloration and wrinkled paint. These generally indicate that a slow drip has been taking place for some time. Once a spot is visible to the naked eye, the moisture has likely spread much further than the surface suggests. An intentional review for even small spots can help you catch issues before they become even more serious.
Once a retroactive review is complete, homeowners can begin to think about the “now.” Issues related to external moisture (and efforts to keep it out) are often straightforward and addressable through basic outdoor maintenance.
Keeping water away from the structure itself is a strong first line of defense. This means cleaning gutters of any leaf litter left from fall and ensuring downspouts are functioning properly, moving water away from the home. This way, when spring showers come, your home is functioning properly and working to ensure water isn’t pooling against your first-level walls.
Just as you should evaluate the home for any existing damage from winter freezes, it’s smart to stay vigilant throughout the spring season. Even if your gutters and downspouts were doing their jobs at the start of the season, do an occasional check. For example, if you notice puddles close to your home after a rainy day, give it some thought. This standing water could be slowly seeping in and triggering water damage indoors.
While awareness as a homeowner is an important baseline, it’s just as crucial to know when to call the professionals. If you notice standing water, discoloration, irregularly high indoor humidity or water where you don’t expect it indoors, you should likely call a professional.
The DIY approach often falls short because it just can’t account for what’s actually happening inside the structure. This is where UWRG franchise owners provide a level of certainty that neither a flashlight nor a ladder can match. Using thermal imaging cameras, specialists can see the exact footprint of trapped moisture within a wall, out of view to the naked eye.
"The best way to check is with a thermal imaging camera,” Janocsik said. “Because it shows the whole outline of the water damage, not just the small spot you can see.”
By pairing such cameras with moisture meters, professional restoration experts can assess whether the moisture levels in drywall have climbed above the standard 10% or 15% range. If the meter reads above 25%, a serious problem is confirmed, allowing the restoration team to address the root cause before rot or mold forms.
For most people, the home is the single largest investment they’ll ever make. While it can be tempting to ignore a small drip under a cabinet or a faint spot on the ceiling, procrastination is the enemy of a healthy home.
"Once you see something unusual, you should act on it," Janocsik said. "We see rotten cabinets because something has been dripping underneath a kitchen cabinet, and people don’t care about it. They think it’s just a drip. But after months and months, it can rot the whole cabinet."
Whether it’s testing a sump pump by dumping a bucket of water into the pit or simply running the furnace fan to keep air circulating, small habits can make a profound difference. But, when those habits aren’t enough, UWRG stands as a local resource that can help ensure a winter mishap doesn’t become a costly, permanent headache.
About United Water Restoration Group
Since 2008, United Water Restoration Group (UWRG) has helped thousands of home and business owners restore properties to pre-loss condition. Through a commitment to excellence and a focus on personal attention, clients’ expectations are exceeded every time, without exception. Today, with a philosophy of hiring the best staff to provide professional restoration services, UWRG has grown to more than 50 locations and maintains a level of customer service rarely seen in the industry. Although UWRG assists those experiencing disasters, this growing, recession-proof industry is also supported by fundamental infrastructure issues like aging systems and reconstruction.
The initial investment to open and begin operation ranges from $300,000 - $700,000. For more information on franchising, visit https://uwrgfranchise.com/investment-opportunities/.
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