We’ve all heard the phrase ‘prevention is better than cure.’ While the meaning of this proverb is pretty obvious, it has perhaps never been truer than when it comes to water damage restoration. Some forms of water damage can strike unexpectedly even when every precaution is taken, but there’s a lot that you can do to stop many forms of water damage from affecting your property and requiring the services of a water damage restoration company. Let’s take a look at the origins of this wise proverb and at the same time go over some essentials for water damage prevention.

Water Damage in 58 A.D.?

The earliest appearance of the proverb, though in different language, dates all the way back to the year 58 A.D. Persius, a Roman poet, wrote “meet the malady on its way.” Perhaps it’s bold to deduce that he was talking about anything other than some grave illness, but is it so far fetched that he wasn’t talking about patching his roof on a nice sunny day to prevent rain leaks? Who knows, perhaps if his advice was heeded the Roman Empire would have endured. Other variations of the proverb appeared in print in the 13^th and 17^th centuries, in English for the first time. The 13^th century version is of particular interest because instead of referring only to an ill of some sort it elaborates to include heading off “a disaster.” Aha! A disaster could certainly be anything from a flash flood to storm damage and, in our modern era, the dreaded sewage backup.

Preventing Water Damage is Always Better Than Curing It

Since the proverb has changed over time I propose a new version for these modern times we live in. With the threat of water emergencies always looming “preventing water damage is always better than curing it” should be our new mantra. Now that we have that settled, let get into the prevention itself, yes? The easiest place to start is to grab a ladder and (safely, of course) clear the leaves and other debris out of your rain gutters. Seems obvious, but you’d be surprised at how often we see rain leaks and battered roofs that could have been avoided with the simple act of cleaning the gutters. Next, make sure your downspout is moving rainwater as far away from your property as possible.

Another great way to protect your home from needing water damage restoration is to install and maintain a quality sump pump in your basement. This is especially important if you have a basement that is already prone to flooding, and keeping the water level low is essential to avoid the need for costly repairs.

What If it’s Too Late?

If it’s too late for prevention and you need the cure, turn to a trusted water damage professional for water removal and repairs. Don’t attempt a big flood cleanup job on your own. There are health risks and other hazards, so leave it to the experts!