Staying organized includes taking steps to address potential problems so they don't become actual problems. In the spirit of keeping in good shape, today's post is about three small things you can do to reduce your risk of a household nightmare.
1. Change the water intake hoses on your refrigerator, dishwasher and toilets. The water that comes into your house or apartment is under pressure and over time that pressure can compromise the integrity of a rubber hose. The photo above is my washing machine's hot water intake hose. I happened to notice was bulging and if that thing had blown loose while we were out of town, our entire downstairs would have flooded. Thankfully I noticed it and replaced it right away for just a few dollars.
2. Change your refrigerator's water filter on schedule. Last summer I noticed the baseboard on top of our hardwood floors was separating from the wall and from itself at the corner. Upon closer investigation, I realized it was because our refrigerator water filter was leaking. It hadn't been changed on schedule and the water, which would have normally passed through it was leaking out onto the floor. Judging by the condition of the hardwoods and the baseboard behind the fridge, it had been leaking for weeks or perhaps even months. Write the change date for your water filter in your calendar as well as on the filter itself with a Sharpie as a reminder and change them on schedule.
3. Buy leak detectors. Water damage is the second-leading cause of home insurance claims nationwide and 80 percent of all home water claims are caused by plumbing and major appliances. Had we put a leak detector behind the refrigerator long ago, we would have been alerted the moment the filter began to leak. Place leak detectors behind or next to your washing machine, refrigerator (if you have an icemaker in it), water heater and under each sink. The price you'll pay for the detectors is a small investment for peace of mind.
What small thing have you done to proactively prevent a problem from occurring?
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