If you had me help you buy a house, you may remember me telling you this very fact along with the point that the Grand Canyon was formed by water eroding the rock. If you have water issues, these could destroy your house, or worse, create a health issue for you and your family via mold. Your job is to make sure that no water comes into your house that you do not want there and to make sure the water that comes in thru the pipes stays there until you want it to come out. So here are some potential water issues to check regularly:
Leaky Plumbing
Cold winter temperatures can cause pipes to contract or freeze, particularly those to outside hose bibs or ones on exterior walls. This can cause cracks in the tubing, which as the temperature gets warmer the pipes begin to expand, causing water to leak. Also, the older the pipes in your house, the more vulnerable they are to crack.
If you notice an abnormally high water bill, find standing water, smell a unnatural musty odor or see or hear a water leak, you may have leaky plumbing. Any leaking pipes must be fixed right away to prevent water damage and mold growth.
Exterior Water Penetration
After a rain shower, recommend you visit your attic to inspect it for any water penetration. If you find water, you will need to address it before it causes more damage to you and your house.
Also visit your basement to check for water either seeping thru walls, via windows, exterior doors, or any other manner in which it could come in. Correct any deficiency before it becomes a major problem. While checking inside, also go outside to make sure no drains are clogged, gutters are on properly with water going down the downspout and being directed at least 6 feet away from your house on such a grade so that the water does not come back.
Sump Pump
Basement sump pumps do not run much in the winter, because only infrequent rain and occasional melting snow is generally light in this area and may cause very little water to make it to your sump. However, when spring showers arrive, you do not want the pump to fail and flood your basement. Early in the spring, have your sump pump checked to make sure it is working properly. That way, you can avoid a flooded basement. If done before damage occurs to the pump, all you need to do is replace the motor and not the entire pump. For more info click here.
These preventative measures should help you enjoy your home for many years without water causing major issues.