Wherever it rains, it can also flood. As we are in the midst of hurricane season, it is important to take all the necessary precautions to protect your home from flooding, even if you think your home isn’t at risk.
What many homeowners fail to realize is that most insurance providers do not cover flood damage. To save yourself thousands in potential repairs, it is essential to protect your home from flooding. Here are five flood protection tips.
1. Ensure Your Gutters are Clear
During a storm, water can accumulate on and around your home quickly. Your gutters are a vital drainage system that flows excess rainwater away from your home.
To mitigate the chances of a flood, you want to make sure your gutters are clean. Experts recommend cleaning them once every three months.
However, if you notice your gutters overflowing during light rainfall, you want to address the issue quickly because even a small amount of leaves or debris can clog your gutters. If you’re unsure how to properly clean your gutters, here is a helpful guide.
2. Apply Sealants to At-Risk Areas
The next time it rains, look outside and see where the water flows. If you notice much of the water flows through or settles at a particular part of your home, you want to apply a sealant to that area.
Sealants are great at filling cracks you might not have noticed in your foundation, which is particularly important in older homes. Likewise, you want to cover any basement doors, windows, or walls to prevent any leaks.
3. Install Foundation Vents
Foundational sealants and coatings can only do so much. If you continuously notice excess water building up around your home during rainfall, it may be a good idea to invest in foundation vents.
Foundation vents are a form of “wet flood-proofing.” With foundation vents, water flows through your home rather than pooling around it. Therefore, you have a safe outlet for excess water, which can also relieve pressure from your basement walls, windows, and doors.
4. Modify Your Sewage and Water Pipes
Excess rainwater can flood a sewer system and cause sewage to seep into your home. If there’s anything worse than a house flood, it’s a house flood with sewage water.
To prevent this from happening, we recommend installing interior or exterior backflow valves on all pipes entering your home. These valves provide strong seals on your pipes and can automatically open to allow water to pass through and close to prevent water from getting back in.
5. Use Smart Home Solutions for Early Detection
Regardless if you do everything in your power to prevent flooding in your home, freak storms happen, and you must be prepared. When flooding does occur, you want early detection to prompt an immediate response.
With water leak sensors, you will receive an immediate alert if water enters your home. If you get an alert, you want to cut off power to your basement and move all electronics in that area to higher ground immediately.
By having smart sensors, you can mitigate environmental hazards in your home. Partnering with a trusted security provider ensures your home is protected during a time of need. If you would like to learn more, contact Vector Security today.
