Many people don’t realize it, but water damage is one of the most deceivingly costly disasters that could hit your home.

Some homeowners may not worry much about an inch or two of water in places where there shouldn’t be any, but that amount of water is already enough to inflict damage that will require professional water damage restoration services to fix.

Your home needs protection from water damage. Here are tips on how to do just that.

Clean your rain gutters regularly.

Leaves and debris find their way into your rain gutters on a daily basis. Eventually, enough of them will accumulate to block the flow of rainwater, which will back up and overflow and potentially cause water damage to your home’s siding and foundation.

Make cleaning your rain gutters part of your routine, so no matter how heavy the downpour, rainwater will always flow smoothly and out the downspouts. And speaking of downspouts, you might want to add extenders to them so you can direct water away—preferably 10 feet—from the structure of your house.

Take care of your plumbing.

Many homes suffer water damage because of leaky or broken pipes, blocked drains and sewers, and other plumbing issues. As much as possible, be mindful of your entire plumbing system, and don’t delay fixing any problem that may come up, whether it be a leaking water heater or an overflowing drain.

Plant and maintain trees and vegetation.

We’ve all known since we were kids how the roots of trees and plants absorb water and help minimize floods. Let’s not waste that knowledge and start landscaping our yards, if we haven’t already.

However, let’s keep in mind that some trees like aspens, white fir, and maples have aggressive root systems that might creep into your home’s foundation. Avoid planting these types of trees, but if you have to, make sure you place them some 10 to 20 feet away from the house.

Grade your yard.

The soil surrounding your home must slope away from its structure to prevent rainwater from pooling there. Do what you can to grade your yard, with a slope of about a quarter of an inch per foot.

Remove snow and ice.

If you can remove as much snow and ice away from your home before spring melt begins, then the better it would be for your water damage prevention efforts. Make it a point to start with the snow and ice on your driveway, deck, and any area that slopes down toward your house.

Check your roof.

The roof is that part of your house that is battered the worst by the elements, so it’s not surprising if parts of it end up getting damaged over time. Inspect your roof for leaks, holes, or missing shingles to make sure no rain or snow will drip through it and cause water damage.

Caulk and seal your windows.

Windows can leak during heavy rainstorms and cause water damage inside your home. You can prevent this from happening by caulking and sealing your windows regularly.

Fill in cracks in the foundation.

If your foundation has cracks, then your home’s risk of suffering water damage is high since water can easily seep through those gaps and weaken the structure of your house. Use mortar and hydraulic cement or masonry caulk mix to seal those cracks.

Turn the water off before going on vacation.

If you’re planning to leave the house for a longer time than usual, make sure you shut off your home’s main water valve. That way, there would be little to no risk of a water leak happening inside your home while you’re away.

These are just some of the ways you can protect your home from water damage. Start with these tips to ensure that water damage won’t touch your house, and give yourself some peace of mind.