Your most obvious prevention task is to stay up to date on maintenance. Small leaks from fixtures don’t go away on their own, and eventually they become big ones. Get a plumbing inspection regularly, ...

The average water damage restoration job costs $3,800, and that can go up to $16,000 and beyond when you factor in ruined carpets, disintegrating drywall and mold in places you can’t even see.

Water outside your house can be a real bummer, but that’s nothing compared to how much it can ruin your day (or week, or year) once it starts getting inside.