5 Ways to Protect Your Home from Flooding

Flooding has become an increasing problem throughout the U.S., costing millions of dollars in damage each year. Not everyone can afford to move to lower-risk areas or redesign their home to raise it on stilts, but there are ways to safeguard your home against flooding without having to move. https://www.nicevilleinsurance.com/flood/default.aspx

Maintain Pipes and Water Systems

Floods can happen both inside and outside of the home. Even outside floods can cause problems when it comes to your water or sewer systems. Make sure all systems are kept up to date and secure to prevent sudden bursts or breaks. An important note is that issues arising from sudden water or sewer system issues isn’t covered by flood insurance unless directly caused by an outside flood, but you can purchase an additional water and sewer insurance policy to cover related damages.

Landscape Away from the Home

Careful landscaping can help prevent floods from damaging your home. Have your lawn and backyard adjusted with heavy soil to tilt the land away from your home so that the water runoff leads away from your home instead of toward it.

Advance Your Home’s Foundation

The foundation of a home is one of the most important aspects and is usually one of the first areas of the home to suffer a flood. Adding a sump pump or vents to the foundation of the home prevents water from reaching the home and remaining stagnant by pushing it through vents instead. Sump pumps can be useful for basements, which is crucial, as a lot of home and flood insurance policies won’t cover damage to basements or their contents. 

Proof Your Walls and Windows

There are sealants available specifically to keep out water that you can put on your walls, windows, doorways and foundation. This helps to prevent water from seeping through cracks and can minimize water damage both from violent storms and floods.

Keep Valuables Above Flood Levels

There are certain items and systems that should be kept above flood level. In other words, they should not be in a basement or on the bottom floor without a stand, if possible. Your valuable personal items should be locked safely away in an elevated place while other equipment crucial to the home should also be propped up. This includes air conditioning units, water heaters, washer and dryer units and generators. You may also want to have electrical sockets raised higher to prevent electrical issues caused by floods.