Tips to help keep flood damage to a minimum

Keeping Flood Damage to a Minimum

Flooding can be a very scary thing. Anyone who lives in a flood prone area can undoubtedly tell stories about being forced to watch the water rise and knowing that there’s nothing to be done about it. Even if one’s home floods from a simple leak in a water pipe, the damage can be costly. Every homeowner should take steps to ensure that flood damage is kept to a minimum, even if one believes that the possibility is remote.

Door Barriers:

One of the weakest parts of any house when it comes to flooding is the doors. This is often the first point of entry. Door barriers typically attach to the outside of the door and provide coverage above the projected flood line. They can be custom made to fit the look of the home so there’s no need to remove them at all.

Flood Barrier Windows:

This is another weak spot in most homes. Unlike doors, the main danger here is not from leaks but rather from the entire window caving in under pressure if the water level rises too high. One doesn’t even want to imagine the amount of flood damage this can cause. There are specially designed windows in which the glass will flex as opposed to shattering.

Sump Pumps:

If the home comes with a basement then one of these should always be kept handy. There doesn’t have to be a great, big flood outside for the basement to start filling up, especially in older houses where the basement hasn’t been made waterproof. The last thing one wants to have to deal with is water damage to the foundation of one’s home. It’s best to also have an alternative power source, just in case the weather conditions lead to outages.

Back Flow Valves:

This is typically placed on sewer lines and does it really need to be explained? Well alright. If the ground becomes saturated it is possible for water to get into the sewage lines. Depending on the amount, this can cause a back up into the home. It might cost some money to have this installed but think about the potential alternative.

These are all methods to help mitigate the effects of flood damage, but it’s nearly impossible to stop it completely. If there’s just a slight back up of water then the homeowner might be able to tackle the cleaning up themselves, with the aid of a mop and bucket of course. A lot of flood damage though will most likely require the services of a restoration company. Most times one can be accessed through the insurance company, providing one was smart enough to pay for flood insurance.