How to Prevent Home Flooding: 5 Simple Tips

9/1/2021 (Permalink)

storm causes flooding in Tallahassee home

How to Prevent Home Flooding: 5 Simple Tips 

Storm waters and flooding from hurricanes, thunderstorms, or even tornadoes can leave your home damaged and you feeling overwhelmed. If you live in a flood zone, your home flooding chances are magnified and even more scary. 

A flooded house can lead to everything from mold to flooring damage, not to mention the hit to your bank account. In this blog, you'll find a few tips on how to prevent flooding in your home. 

1. Check Your Foundation for Cracks

The first thing you can do to protect your home from flooding is to check your foundation for cracks. If you see any cracks in the foundation, seal them immediately before storm season begins. Then, you can pick up masonry or mortar caulk from your local hardware store. 

Water damage from storms or water seeping into your home needs to be dealt with right away to prevent further damage and health effects. 

2. Check Your Basement Windows

Many flooded homes have happened because of water seeping in through the basement windows. During the yearly maintenance checkup of your home, don't forget to check the basement windows for any cracks or holes.

If the windows are too bad, it's best to invest in new basement windows, and that goes for the rest of the windows in your home as well. If you find any cracks, make sure to seal them well before the rainy season begins. 

3. Clean Your Downspouts and Gutters

Check and clean your gutters and downspouts at least once a year, but preferably in the spring and fall of the year. If you're afraid of heights, it might be best to hire someone to come in and do this job for you. However, if you have a lot of trees around your home, you'll need to check the gutters and downspouts more often for the best results. 

4. Keep Drains and Ditches Clear of Debris

It's important to avoid mulch, leaves, and debris gathering in your drains and ditches, as when it starts to rain, if it floods, the water has nowhere to go. If you live in an area with a lot of trees, make sure to rake your leaves, bag them up and take them away instead of letting them pile up and be swept into your drains. 

5. Invest in a Sump Pump 

One sure way to prevent flooding in your home is to invest in a sump pump. If you do have a flood in your home, then this works to pump the water back outside where it belongs. Though most sump pumps are electric, you need to invest in a battery-operated one, just in case the power fails. 

Prevent Home Flooding Today

These are just a few of the things you can do to prevent home flooding from happening to you and your family. There are many causes of house floods out there, but if you're prepared, you don't have to worry about them as well. For help with any flood or fire damage as well as mold remediation, contact us today. We are standing by to take your calls and answer your questions.