Home and business owners can suffer damage from floods and stormwater. You will be at a greater risk of flooding if you live in a floodplain or a flood zone. To prevent a flood from happening in the first place, you should consider the following steps to take.
Water damage caused by a sink overflow or bath overflow is typically covered by homeowners’ insurance policies, but not flood damage caused by hurricanes, storms, and other natural disasters. Make sure you understand your insurance policy’s coverage by talking to your agent.
Considering flood insurance if you live in a high-risk area might be a good idea.
You can install flood detection systems or water sensors.
Water detection systems, sensors, and alarms are available for homes and businesses to detect leaks and water. Your smart home or home security system can be linked to more sophisticated water or leak detection systems to alert you before disaster strikes.
Consider a battery backup for your sump pump & regularly test it.
Maintain a regular sump pump test schedule. When heavy rains fall, ensure the drain can remove the water quickly. It may also be a good idea to use a battery backup system or a power backup unit so that your sump pump will keep running even if the power goes out or if the power is restored for some reason. A sump pump that has an integrated battery backup system is another option that you can consider.
Keep ditches and drains clean by regularly clearing debris.
If you wish to keep your yard clean, then you should avoid piling leaves, mulch, or any other kind of debris where it would flush into the sewage drains or restrict drainage pathways. In areas with lots of trees in your neighborhood, it would be a good idea to regularly rake your yard, pick up the leaves, and place them out of the area for collection. If you see a blockage in an adjacent storm drain, use a rake to remove it. Severe blockages should be reported to your city and county water and sewer departments.
Gutter and downspout cleaning should be done regularly.
Keep gutters and downspouts clean at least once yearly, more often if your home is near many trees. Using a flexible water hose with a high-pressure attachment and a leaf blower, you can remove leaves from downspouts and ensure they are clean. You can also do this if you want to hire someone to handle this for you.
Make your home’s grading and drainage better.
Keep an eye out for any rainwater or flood water that accumulates around your home during a rainstorm. Keep an eye on the area near the foundation. If your home or business has a foundation, the ground should slope away from it. If you want to improve the grading, sod and dirt might be needed. It may be necessary to install drainage to provide the water with a place to go during heavy storms.
Make sure your foundation is free of cracks and openings.
Keep doors, windows, utilities, and exhaust penetrations sealed for regular home maintenance. Inspect your foundation regularly, and use mortar caulk to seal foundation cracks.
Be sure to check and seal your basement windows.
You can improve their water resistance by properly sealing and caulking the basement or low windows. You may also want to consider replacing old windows with new ones. It can prevent water from entering your home with newer windows because they have a better seal. It is also possible to increase energy efficiency by installing new windows.
Upgrade drains and inspect them.
You may want to consider having one-way (backflow prevention) valves installed on the drains in your home. If you have one-way valves, your home won’t be flooded with sewer backups.
Make sure flood skirts and barriers are in place.
Attaching flood skirts or barriers around air bricks, windows, and doors can help prevent floods from entering the home. Doing this will allow you to flood proof your home and prevent water from coming in.
Make sure you have sandbags nearby.
Using sandbags can prevent flooding through a doorway or low window if flood levels rise. Keep sandbags handy for emergencies if you live in a flood-prone area.
