If you think California is the only state with significant earthquake risk, you might want to look at some predictions concerning the Pacific Northwest. Earlier in 2016, a story in The New Yorker about the Northwest’s coming earthquake danger prompted the White House to plan a summit meeting involving seismic activity in the region.
Like many of our neighbors to the south in California, it would behoove us to start considering the possibilities of earthquake damage and the effect it could have on our bank accounts.
First and foremost, to keep in mind in the event of an earthquake is that procrastination in getting repairs done will increase both the cost and danger factors. So, don’t hesitate, mitigate!
After an earthquake, there is usually a shortage of available licensed contractors in the affected area due to the sudden high demand, so grab them early. Ordering a home inspection is likely to be well worth the money so you get things fixed right the first time. Cosmetic-only repairs can come back to haunt you. Opting for an appropriate seismic retrofit, though it sounds expensive, may reduce further damage and save you money.
Here are some things to look for and consider:
Natural gas lines – High priority. Turn the gas off and keep it off until you’re sure the lines and fittings are undamaged and tightly fitted. If gas appliances are not anchored properly and/or flexible pipe connections are not in use, repair costs and fire danger can be significant.
Plumbing – Also high priority. Broken pipes may not be apparent at first but the ongoing damage can easily run into thousands of dollars in repairs if the pipes are not repaired quickly.
A simple water pressure gauge can turn out to be a fantastic investment. Attach the gauge to the plumbing system and note the pressure. Do not use any water for a few hours and check the gauge again. If the pressure has dropped, call South West Plumbing 206-932-1777 immediately because there’s a good chance you have a leak.
Foundation – Inspect the concrete foundation slab and crawl space walls for cracks. Cracks in the concrete will probably lead to seepage, which in turn can result in mold and mildew problems. It may be a year or more before such problems become obvious to sight and smell, so fix them fast or find out later that repair bills have increased every month left unattended.
Door and window jambs - Shattered glass windows are hard to miss and these need to be repaired quickly for obvious reasons. However, the absence of shattered glass does not mean you have no worries. Earthquakes can easily damage the jambs, causing doors and windows to stick and create gaps through which unwanted moisture and air to flow into the home’s interior.
Water and Sewer lines – Even if interior plumbing appears to be fine, damages to water and sewer lines attached to the home also can lead to significant repair costs. Keep a close eye on your water bill to spot unexpected usage increases, which usually means leakage. Like cracks in the foundation, disruption of sewer lines may go undetected for months before you begin to smell the effects. If in doubt, ordering a sewer line inspection may be a wise move.
It’s Never Too Early
Knowing we have earthquake potential, we do not have to wait until the big one hits before taking action to reduce the financial impact. Preemptive precautions we can take include: installing safety film on large windows, adding seismic protection to foundations, strapping water heaters and pipes securely, and making sure we have the insurance coverage we deem appropriate.
