There is no denying that flooding is something that can result in a catastrophic outcome for those affected by it. When a home gets flooded, it can cause a lot of damage and take a lot of time and money to fix.
Flooding can also destroy furniture, clothing, electronics, and, of course, valuable keepsakes that cannot get replaced, such as photographs and letters. You’re likely reading this because you believe your home might be at risk of flooding.
For example, it might have been built on a flood plain, or it’s adjacent to a nearby river or large body of water. But, flooding can also get caused by other means, such as burst water pipes.
Many homeowners don’t realise that their home insurance policies don’t cover flooding damage; they are different insurance products. As you can imagine, finding out such information after a flood can be further catastrophic for householders.
The following information will provide inspiration on how you can avoid flooding in your home:
Install Flood Defences
If you live in an area that is prone to flooding due to rivers breaching their banks, for example, you must take adequate steps to prepare for such eventualities. One of the best ways to do that is by installing flood defences in and around your home.
Doors can have special water-blocking barriers installed so when water levels rise, they can prevent water from entering the house. Other flood defence measures like sandbags can also help stem the flow of water entering your home.
Upgrade Your Water Pipes
Even if you don’t live on a flood plain, your home could still get affected by flooding. For instance, water pipes typically don’t last long, and if they get constructed out of copper, they can corrode and end up with pinhole leaks that increase in size over time.
If you don’t know how old the water pipes are in your home, it makes sense to have them replaced. You could do the work yourself and use black threaded pipe, or you could pay a contractor like a plumber to replace your water pipes on your behalf.
In any event, you must use high-quality water pipes to ensure longevity and not need to worry about them bursting randomly one day.
Take Out Flood Insurance
You need to check what type of insurance coverage you have for your home. If you don’t have insurance that specifically covers flooding, now is the time to get that done. As the name suggests, flood insurance is a product that compensates you if your home ever floods.
It’s worth keeping in mind that flood insurance might be expensive if insurance companies deem your home a high risk of getting flooded. Still, even with the cost of flood insurance, the amount you pay will be small compared to paying for repairs to your home.
Several insurance companies exist that provide specific flood insurance policies. Make sure you compare quotes from the different providers in your area and select the one that offers the most coverage for the least amount of money.
Have Your Foundations Checked
If your home has been subject to flooding in the past, it makes sense to have a professional check your foundations. That’s because previous flooding may have damaged your foundations and perhaps caused corrosion on any metal components that form part of them.
It’s also worth noting that flooding might have caused other damage, such as increased subsidence; if that applies to your house, you may need to pay for your home to get underpinned.
When you get a foundation expert to check your home, they might also give you details of other areas that may have possibly been affected by previous flooding.
Seal Your Walls And Floors
One thing that happens when a house gets flooded is the water can penetrate behind plasterboard and plaster, and it can also work its way underneath floors. With that fact in mind, it can be a good idea to seal your walls and floors.
Many coatings and sealants exist that enable you to create an effective barrier on your walls and floors. What’s more, you can also apply them to other areas, such as basement walls and floors, doorways, and even your home’s foundations.
You can carry out the work yourself if you feel you can do it as it’s the same process as painting, or you can pay a building contractor to seal your walls and floors for you.
Buy A Battery-Powered Water Pump
If the worst happens and water starts entering your house, you can use a battery-powered water pump to extract the water from your floor and pump it outside. Battery-powered models are best because you can still use them if you experience a power outage.
Just make sure that you keep your battery-powered water pump charged and periodically check its charge level.
Keep Valuables At A High Level
Let’s face it: the thought of having valuables destroyed, whether they have monetary or sentimental value, does not bear thinking about. That’s why you should consider keeping valuables at a high level.
When you plan your home’s interior decor, consider planning storage of downstairs items at high levels. That way, you are less likely to have lots of things damaged or destroyed by flooding.
Raise Electrical Outlets And Switches
It should come as no surprise that flooding often results in power outages in people’s homes. One way to prevent or delay that from happening is by raising your electrical outlets and switches.
Consider raising them at least one foot above flood levels or as high as possible to ensure you can continue keeping your electrical supply working.
Prepare For Imminent Flooding
Last but not least, check local weather reports to learn if your area is likely to become flooded due to heavy rain. There might also be local organisations or government agencies that can alert you if nearby river levels rise, for example.
When you know that flooding is likely soon, you’ll have time to prepare to move your valuables to higher ground and activate your flood defences.