How Vacation Homes Are More Vulnerable to Water Damage Than Year-Round Residences

8/3/2021 (Permalink)

Blog Summary: Because vacation homes are often unoccupied for the majority of the year, they are more susceptible to extensive water damage.

Water damage in Carrollton, TX, is a concern for homeowners, and no one wants to find large amounts of water pooling on the floor. People that own a vacation home in addition to their primary residence will want to make sure that they understand the risk factors that make vacation homes more likely to experience a large-scale water damage disaster.

Carrollton, TX, is a beautiful community and an ideal destination for rest and relaxation. Local residents enjoy vacationing at lake homes located on the area’s scenic lakes. However, homeowners should remember that their primary residence is less vulnerable to a large-scale water damage incident than a vacation home that is only used for a few weeks or months out of the year.

Why Vacation Homes Are More Susceptible to Large-Scale Water Damage

1. The homeowner is more invested in the upkeep and maintenance of the primary residence.

When disaster strikes at a primary residence, homeowners must repair the damage quickly so that they and their families can continue to carry on with their normal life. If the incident is severe, the homeowner may have to evacuate the premises for days, weeks, or even months. As a result, homeowners are more likely to prioritize maintenance at the home they spend the most time at rather than the home they only visit occasionally.

2. The homeowner is more aware of unusual sounds and smells in the primary home.

Because homeowners are well-acquainted with the familiar sounds of their home, they will notice abnormal noises such as clanking, rattling, or whirring. The homeowner will pay more attention to these sounds, which may indicate a leak somewhere in the plumbing system. Most likely, he or she will conduct a preliminary visual investigation, seek advice from a friend or neighbor, or schedule an inspection with a certified plumbing professional. In addition, unusual odors can alert the vigilant homeowner to a water leak or a mold infestation.

At a vacation home, however, people are seldom present to observe strange sounds or smells. Even when people are present, they may not have spent enough time at the house to gauge what noises are or are not normal.

3. The homeowner is more attentive to the rhythm of the primary residence as it ages, wears out, and degrades.

Malfunctions, equipment failures, breakages, clogs, and plumbing backups can sometimes be predictable. For example, washing machine supply lines need replacing every five years due to the repetitive cycles of the washing process; the stresses take their toll on the supply lines. Gaskets, washers, O-rings, and fittings degrade over time and need periodic replacement. Faucets, sink drains, and toilets will eventually leak.

Often, the homeowner can have a sense that some home appliance or system is due for a replacement or an inspection. Daily activity in the primary residence provides constant reminders to schedule repairs before a water damage disaster, sewage backup, or appliance failure occurs.

In contrast, vacation homes are commonly left unoccupied for much of the year. Without staying in the house regularly, the homeowner does not develop an awareness of the home’s rhythm and can miss cues that signal an impending water damage disaster.

Water Damage Vulnerabilities Common to Vacation Homes

Listed below is a comprehensive checklist of the vulnerabilities of a vacation home to a large-scale water damage disaster.

• Lack of usage
• Neglect on the part of guests to report an issue before it becomes a disaster
• Misuse or abuse of the home by guests, vacationers, or short-term renters
• Aging, degrading, and decomposition of parts and appliances over time
• Corrosion of the plumbing from harsh sediments and minerals in the water supply
• Changes in temperature and moisture that fracture pipes or loosen fittings
• Condensation that can foster a mold infestation, cause wood rot, or lead to other structural damages such as foundation cracks and warping of support and load-bearing beams
• Changes in water pressure in the water line
• An extended power outage that allows items in the freezer and refrigerator to thaw and flood the floor
• Severe weather that damages the roof, windows, or siding while the vacation home is unoccupied
• Manufacturing defects in appliances such as the refrigerator, washer, or ice maker
• Rodents, raccoons, or skunks chewing through a water pipe, water supply line, or electrical wire in an unoccupied vacation home
• HVAC leakage related to the condensate pan or evacuation line

To learn more about water damage restoration in Dallas, TX, contact SERVPRO of Carrollton by phone at (972) 446-0383. The office can also be reached by email at office@SERVPRO10952.com