This year's winter season was awfully strange, there were ice everywhere. Previous winter seasons were generally calm to chilly, but this recent winter, it was a catastrophe! The recent ice storm destroyed our power lines. We had to do with our everyday chores without electricity for four days. Unfortunately for others, they had no electricity for two months. The trees were also covered with ice ranging from an inch to two inches in thickness. We had fire to keep us warm through the night, and enough to cook our food. Still, we had no hot water for cleansing. There were times that the temperature in the rooms we locked reached 42 degrees. After the ice melted, the kitchen and laundry sections of the house started to have this smell of fungi. We were aware of the leak however we could not locate it. After days of tracking the leak down, we discovered a crack due to freezing in one of the pipes to the washing machine. Yet, it already made a huge mess. We paid a lot to have it repaired and today, all is back to normal.

Flooding and waters leaking inside the house has many causes, however the chief perpetrator is the washing machine. It simply creates a life and health risk environment, aside from the cost of repairs. Leaking faucets, toilets, hoses, hot water heaters, washing machines, roof, pipes, or a leak between the meter and the house can cause considerable damage.

A total of 20 gallons of water is wasted daily if a faucet is not closed properly! It's not funny to waste 7,300 gallons of water in one year. Yes! That is how much if accumulated. It's a tremendous quantity, don't you think? If you're not satisfied with the number, would you prefer 100 gallons a day? A leaking toilet can do that. Sum that up in a year and what do you get? 36,500 gallons!

Your water bill can be your basis for checking if there's a leak in the house. Since you already know how much water your household uses, you can establish your average utility, so when the bill is unusually high, chances are you have a water leak. An easy way to determine if you have a leak is to turn off all the faucets and sources of running water in the house. Look at your initial meter reading. Afterwards, check again after an hour has passed. If the reading is higher, then you have a leak somewhere in the house.

A big leak can easily catch your attention, however a slow, continuous leak is less likely for you to notice until it's destruction is revealed in the form of bulging floors and fungus reeking.

Some tips on checking for leaks are to inspect the pipes underneath sinks and tub, dishwashers, and washing machines for corrosion and cracks. At times, leaks can be caused by clogged pipes due to stuck particles in the shower drain, toilet bowls, and kitchen drains. To avoid that, keep your drains clear and clean and throw your trash in the proper waste bin. Have your plumber do a regular check up on your pipes and hoses to ensure that they are still in good condition. You can add in water alarms, water valve shut-offs and washer shut-offs (which I regret not putting one in mine!) and change your washer hoses with flood check hoses.

More than millions of dollars have been exhausted every year just to fix all the destructions related to water has brought. Claims for insurances are usually due to damages as a result of defective plumbing and poor maintenance in the household and is prevalent in about 2,000,000 households. Your household need not be one of the numbers.

How to prevent water leak at your home? At Safe Home Products you can choose a variety of water shut off system.