WHEN HOMES ATTACK.

Byline: Lewis Taylor The Register-Guard

Exploding washing machine hoses, leaky ice-makers, "protein fires," clogged dryer hoses, demolished garage doors, flaming drapes, sparking chimneys, leaking toilets and sinking floors.

What do these household mishaps have in common? They're all very expensive to fix and potentially dangerous. They're also mostly preventable.

"Most disasters happen because somebody got distracted from what they were doing," says Michael Jones, owner of Willamette Valley Restoration, a company that deals with all of the above problems and more.

Jones recalls the case of a woman who left a boiling chicken on the stovetop while she went to work causing what's known in the industry as a "protein fire." She returned to find a pile of bones, a tar-like gook and a horrendous odor throughout the house.

Jones says the acrid white smoke such a conflagration causes permeates everything it touches, requiring thousands of dollars in cleanup. Walls need to be repainted and sealed, drapes, clothing and carpets all need to be professionally cleaned.

After more than 20 years in the business, Jones has seen it all, from the woman who drew herself a bath and then went to sleep without turning the water off to the construction crew that flooded all three stories of a newly constructed house with frozen pipes. There are some disasters that he sees repeatedly, such as candle fires, garage door drive throughs and stovetop incidents involving rubber baby bottle nipples.

You might think that most household disasters are due to stupid mistakes, but restoration experts say that only about a third of the messes they mop up are due to boneheaded maneuvers by homeowners. Most are small maintenance issues that grow into big problems.

For example, take the case of the exploding washing machine hose. In this semi-common household calamity, an aging water line explodes, creating a small geyser in your laundry room. If you're home when it happens, you might be able to limit the damage. But if Murphy's Law is in effect, you're on vacation when the line bursts, your laundry room is on the top story of your house and you arrive home from Fiji to find a new water feature in your living room.

One way to avoid such a disaster is to install a shutoff switch for your washing machine, which allows you to quickly turn off the water while not in use. Rubber hoses should be checked regularly and replaced every three to five years. The key to limiting problems throughout the house is maintenance, Jones says.

"My advice to people would be to put together a maintenance checklist and set an appointment with yourself to spend a few hours (inspecting your house)," he says. "Even if it's just once a year ... you're just trying to make sure everything is up to snuff."

Todd McDonald, a claim representative for State Farm Insurance in Eugene, says water incidents account for 72 percent of household messes. One of the most common accidents he sees is broken refrigerator supply lines. A kink or leak develops in the thin plastic or copper tube that brings water to your refrigerator. Leaks can go undetected for weeks, severely damaging hardwood floors, subfloors and other areas of your house.

Because homeowner's insurance generally does not cover repeated leaks and mold from slowly dripping water lines, it's especially important to inspect your house regularly, McDonald says. But even if insurance does cover the bills, you probably don't want this happening to you. McDonald points to the case of a Cottage Grove homeowner whose leaky faucet caused $100,000 worth of water damage while on vacation.

"When they returned, the entire house had about an inch of water throughout," he said.

Other common problems include leaky water heaters, leaky dishwashers and leaky toilets. The wax ring around your toilet should be regularly replaced. Given the importance of proper installation, McDonald recommends hiring a plumber for the job.

Some of the other ways you can prevent water damage include installing water alarms. These stand alone, battery-operated units can be placed under sinks, near appliances and in other high risk areas. Whole house systems that detect leaks and shut off the main water system also can be installed.

If you suspect a leak, conduct your own test by turning off faucets and appliances that use water and not flushing your toilet for an hour. If the flow indicator is moving on your water meter or if the numbers have changed on the meter, you may have a leaking pipe. Some contractors also can use thermal imaging technology to detect the presence of water between walls and under floors.

It's a good idea to know how to shut off the water in your house. You should find the main shutoff valve for your house and make sure it's working. The valve usually is located near your water meter.

If water damage is the No. 1 cause of disasters, fire is a distant second. Unattended candles are the most common culprit, but clogged dryer vents, grease fires and dirty chimneys (and chimneys without spark arresters) are also to blames.

Making sure you have multiple smoke detectors in working order throughout your home is a good way to stop fires. More insurance companies are encouraging customers (especially those in rural areas) to install detectors tied to a central fire alarm. When a fire is detected, a call goes out to emergency responders. Many insurers provide a discount to homeowners who install the service.

Of course, such services do not come cheap and neither does "safe-proofing" your entire home. McDonald acknowledges most homeowners will not be able to do absolutely everything recommended by the experts.

"You have to determine how far you can go," he says. "But I would say the common person can take some small measure to prevent (disasters).

Bob Prew, a contractor who does big and small repairs, agrees. He says most home disasters can be avoided by keeping up on maintenance duties and taking care of problems as soon as they arise. He points to a recent case involving a slow leak beneath a bathroom floor.

"The floor was soft, but they just put it off. ... Now we have to take out the floor.

`A repair that could have cost a few dollars turned into thousands of dollars."

WATER DAMAGE

Early detection is the key to preventing water damage, which accounts for nearly three-fourths of all home disasters:

Hoses and pipes: Periodically check hose connections and pipes on sinks, dishwashers, toilets, washing machines, refrigerators and water heaters for leaks or signs of cracking, bulging or fraying. Replace hoses every three to five years.

Other leaks: Look for discoloration and soft areas on floors and walls around showers, sinks, bathtubs, dishwashers and toilets that could indicate a leak. Replace the wax rings under toilets. Check caulking on tubs and replace it as needed.

Service: Test basement sump pumps each year. Have air conditioning units inspected and cleaned annually.

Outside: Leaky roofs, poor drainage and clogged gutters and downspouts can lead to damage inside your house.

FIRE DAMAGE

Fires are the second biggest cause of home disasters:

Candles: Keep candles away from curtains or bedding. Avoid burning candles to the bottom of their containers. Never leave burning candles unattended.

Smoke detectors: Install throughout your house and change batteries at least once a year. Consider a smoke detector that's connected to a central dispatch center if you live in a rural area.

Fire extinguishers: Place in the kitchen and other rooms, and make sure you know how to use them.

Careful cooking: Don't wear loose clothing. Keep flammable objects away from stoves. Keep surfaces clean and avoid grease buildup. Never pour water on a grease fire.

Chimneys: Should be inspected before each heating season and cleaned regularly to reduce creosote.

Cords and outlets: Don't run electrical cords under rugs. Avoid overloading outlets and extension cords.