(ARA) - When Robert and Rosalinda Wells moved into their new home in West Linn, Ore., last Thanksgiving, it was the realization of a dream. After a three-week trip back to California to pack up their belongings, they were looking forward to enjoying their new home.

---

Sign Up: Free House And Home Newletters
E-Mail: Home Improvement Tips
Reader Tips: Check Archive

---

Instead, thanks to a faulty rubber hose, the first months in their new house turned out to be more of a nightmare than a cause for celebration. "It was dark when we got in, so what I noticed first was the musty smell and the way the hardwood floor felt sticky," says Wells. "Then we turned on the lights and saw that water had run down the walls from upstairs, covered most of the first floor, and dripped on down into the basement."

At some point during their three weeks away, a simple $5 rubber hose connected to the washing machine in the upstairs laundry had started to leak, soaking everything in its path. Water damaged the Wells' maple hardwood floors and the subfloor beneath. It soaked carpet padding all over the house and insulation in the walls, all of which had to be torn out and replaced.

"We were fortunate because the repair costs were covered by our homeowners insurance policy," Wells says, "but what should have been a happy and exciting time for us ended up filled with disappointment and stress. We had contractors in the house making repairs for months, and for a week we even had to move out and into a hotel. We lost two months of our introduction to Oregon because of a $5 item."

Water Repair Costs Soar

The Wells experience is a common scenario, and it's one that more home owners need to prepare for, points out Jim Swegle of Safeco Insurance. "Water is the most common cause of home damage today -- even more likely than fire; and of all the appliances found in the home, the water heater and washing machine are the most likely to cause serious damage. Some water damage is covered under homeowners insurance, but some damage is not."

To help home owners pinpoint trouble spots, Safeco analyzed information from more than a million customers in 44 states. The company found that hot water tanks and washing machines were the appliances that caused the most damage, followed by refrigerators with water or ice units, dishwashers and air conditioners located in attics. The survey also found the cost to repair water damage is getting steep -- typically about $5,000.

"This is a huge hassle," Swegle says. "Home owners who fail to maintain appliances and plumbing systems may face thousands of dollars in repair costs and weeks of invasive home repairs."

Home Upgrades One Reason For The Rise

The biggest difference today is where we're putting our appliances, he notes.

The hot water tank and washing machine once relegated to the basement or garage are now found in utility rooms right off the family room or near finished living areas. When leaks occur, water runs through ceilings and walls, damaging finished areas of the home. In addition, as home owners upgrade kitchens and bathrooms, water damage repairs become more expensive. "In the 1980s, we had stock cabinets and vinyl floors in our kitchens and laundry rooms," Swegle says. "Today, the kitchen is an entertainment center, with hardwood floors and expensive cabinets. When the dishwasher hose fails, it's more expensive to fix the damage."

Home owners can identify potential problems and avoid costly losses by logging on to Safeco's online water damage prevention guide at www.safeco.com/drip.

"In most cases, home owners can save themselves a lot of time and money by adding a few simple protective devices and doing routine maintenance," says Swegle. "These tasks usually take just a few minutes and the parts often cost less than $20."

Courtesy of ARA Content