Preventing Water Damage Cleanup In The Bathroom

Have you ever considered how much water passes through your bathroom each day? A 10-minute shower requires a minimum of 25 gallons, while the toilet utilizes roughly 18.5 gallons of water per person each day. Do you leave the sink on when brushing your teeth? That’s 4 more gallons. Washing your hands or face with the water running adds another 4 gallons to the total. This means that a family of 4 uses approximately 250 gallons of water daily, just in the bathroom alone. 

Water Damage Cleanup Katy TX

The bathroom is the biggest indoor water consumer in your Katy home, so it should come as no surprise that it is a frequent site for water damage cleanup. So, how can we still utilize bathroom amenities while also lowering the risk of water damage? 

1. Keep water draining efficiently to prevent clogs, back-up, and overflow. The best way to prevent clogs is to keep the drains in your sink, bathtub, and shower clear. Given all that goes down our drains, there is always a chance of blockages forming. Clogged drains allow water to back up and overflow into your bathroom, resulting in water damage cleanup. Drain shields are a fantastic technique to prevent extra soap scum and hair from going down the drain and instead be wiped off and thrown away. Another way you can eliminate buildup is to use store-bought drain cleaners or a homemade solution of baking soda, vinegar, and hot water. 
2. Verify that watertight seals are intact around bathroom fittings. To prevent water from leaking around the sinks, toilets, and tub inserts, the caulk creates a water-repellant seal. However, this caulk can begin to pull away over time or as your home settles, leaving areas vulnerable to water leaks and damage. Look for any gaps or spots where the caulk is coming off or pulling away, and be sure to reapply it as needed to keep a watertight seal. 
3. Keep grout clean and repair any chips or worn areas. Grout is used around tiled baths, floors, showers, and even countertops to not only secure the tile but keep water from getting underneath surfaces. Over time, it can wear and chip and, though this is not as simple a remedy as reapplying caulk, it will need to be repaired or reinforced so that water cannot seep outside of the intended regions. If water leaks underneath shower or tubs, it can require extensive water damage cleanup to prevent damage to subfloors, walls, and other structural elements of your home. 
4. Never overfill your toilet. Toilet clogs can cause water to overflow into your bathroom, leaving you in need of water damage cleanup. Never flush anything other than a small amount of toilet paper down the toilet to lessen the likelihood of your toilet clogging. Any and all feminine hygiene items should be disposed of in the trash rather than flushed down the toilet where they can get stuck in the sewer line and cause major problems with your septic tank. You should also keep your toilet clean to prevent buildup in the bowl and the water supply tank which can obstruct the flow of water during bowl emptying and filling. 

If you find yourself in need of water damage cleanup in your bathroom, be sure to give the experts at 24/7 Restoration Specialists a call.