Water Restoration · Maintenance

Water damage prevention and maintenance

The highest-value water damage prevention is unglamorous: replace appliance supply hoses, know and test your main shutoff, keep gutters and grading moving water away from the house, service the sump pump, and consider automatic leak detection. Prevention matters because maintenance failures are typically excluded from coverage.

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Prevention has an unusually clear financial case here. The Insurance Information Institute puts average water damage and freezing claim severity at $13,954 over 2018–2022, and reports that these claims made up 27.6% of homeowners claims in 2022. It also states that policies exclude damage due to lack of maintenance — so the failures you could have prevented are often the ones you pay for yourself.

Start with the shutoff. Find your main water valve, label it, and turn it off and on once a year so it doesn't seize. Everyone in the household should know where it is. This single habit turns a burst pipe from a catastrophe into an inconvenience.

Then the usual suspects: washing machine and ice-maker supply hoses, the water heater and its drain pan, dishwasher connections, toilet supply lines, and the sump pump if you have one. All are cheap to check and expensive to ignore.

Outside, keep water moving away from the building — clear gutters, extended downspouts and ground sloping away from the foundation. Most basement water problems are drainage problems, not plumbing problems.

How to choose

Label and exercise the main shutoff: Once a year. A valve that hasn't moved in a decade may not move when you need it to.
Replace appliance supply hoses: Washing machine and ice-maker hoses are a classic failure point. Braided stainless replacements are inexpensive.
Check the water heater annually: Look for corrosion, moisture at the base, and a functioning drain pan. Water heaters fail eventually, and where they sit determines how bad that is.
Test the sump pump before wet season: Pour a bucket of water in and confirm it cycles. Consider a battery backup if your basement depends on it.
Consider automatic leak detection: Point sensors under appliances are cheap; whole-house shutoff systems cost more. Ask your insurer whether either earns a discount before buying.

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FAQ

Water Restoration maintenance — common questions

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What is the cheapest way to prevent water damage?

Knowing and exercising your main water shutoff, replacing aging appliance supply hoses, and keeping gutters and grading moving water away from the foundation. All are low cost against an average water damage claim severity of $13,954 reported by the Insurance Information Institute.

Are water leak detectors worth it?

Simple sensors under washing machines, water heaters and sinks are inexpensive and catch leaks early. Whole-house automatic shutoff systems cost considerably more — ask your insurer whether they offer a premium discount before deciding.

Will insurance cover a leak I should have noticed?

Generally not. The Insurance Information Institute states that policies exclude damage due to lack of maintenance and that homeowners bear responsibility for maintaining the property.

How often should I check the sump pump?

Test it before each wet season and after any long dry spell. A pump that hasn't run in months is exactly when they fail.

Sources

Where these figures come from

Insurance Information Institute — Facts + Statistics: Homeowners and renters insurance · retrieved 2026-07-25
Insurance Information Institute — Which disasters are covered by homeowners insurance · retrieved 2026-07-25