If you’re concerned about experiencing a house flood, it’s good to be prepared. Floods can happen at a moment’s notice and cause devastating damage. But with a little bit of planning, you can protect your home.
Keep reading to learn 7 ways to be prepared!
- Seal Off Your Basement
A good step in flood preparation is to make sure that your basement is sealed. Any cracks or openings will invite the water to come pouring in. You can use a strong caulk to do this, but when in doubt, call a professional to get the job done right.
- Get Your Heating and HVAC Systems Off the Ground
Make sure that boilers and HVAC systems are not sitting directly on the floor of your basement if you have concerns about flooding. Since these systems are critical to your comfort — and expensive to fix — it’s a good idea to elevate them.
If possible, install them on a floor other than your basement. You’ll sleep better knowing that these critical pieces of equipment are less prone to damage.
- Store Important Items Out of Harm’s Way
If you have smaller items with personal or monetary significance, make sure that they are stored somewhere that won’t expose them to damage. A basement that attracts water during heavy rainfall isn’t the best place to stash any financial notes, valuable antiques, or other family treasures.
- Get Flood Insurance
Flood insurance is a good investment if you anticipate a high likelihood of flooding problems down the road. If you’re wondering what it is, flood insurance is a safeguard against lost property due to floods.
You can ease your mind with flood insurance. When it comes to preparing for a flood, this is a smart step.
- Install a Sump Pump
If your basement doesn’t already have a sump pump installed, you might want to think about adding one. When the rainwater starts falling, a sump pump will pump the excess water from your basement.
Living in an area that is at risk for flash flooding is a good reason to seek one out as a form of flood prevention. They’re an inexpensive way to minimize or eliminate water damage.
- Keep Out Sewage Water During a House Flood
One of the worst experiences to have during a house flood is sewage backup. As part of your flood preparation, look into installing a sewer backup valve.
This will help keep the sewage from invading your basement and ruining everything in sight. Contact a plumber to ensure that it is installed properly.
- Have Sandbags Ready
Hopefully, you won’t reach a point where you need to grab sandbags or other forms of temporary protection, but it’s good to have them if you do. If you know that you live in a flood-prone area, make sure you have a supply of sandbags ready.
Be Prepared
No one wants to deal with a house flood, but they can be a reality. If you take the time to make some adjustments to your basement and create a plan, you can minimize the damage. All you need to do is follow a few steps.
When you’re ready to find new ways to improve your lifestyle, check back for more great articles!