Your house is your safest haven and castle, and you might not have pictured it drowned in water enough to call it an indoor swimming pool. Homes have certain levels of flood risk. Even if you do not reside in a flood-prone location, you can still be a victim of house flooding no matter what type of house you live in.
While natural calamities and flash floods are the notorious transgressors of a flood, particular aspects can cause indoor flooding, and we’ll discuss how to prevent that. So let’s discuss a few guidelines for preventing indoor flooding.
How to Prevent Home Flooding
Floods can occur anywhere, and this doesn’t only apply to flood-prone locations. Whether you live in areas where a flood isn’t common, you should be knowledgeable in preventing it or reducing its impacts to keep your home in its healthiest possible state when one strikes or seems likely to occur. Below are five effective tips for preventing or minimizing indoor floods in your cherished home.
1. Raise your house on piers or stilts
While raising a home on stilts can be expensive to build retroactively, it will enhance a house’s flood protection. An inch of flood water can already bring significant damage, so raising your home above the flood level will significantly protect it.
2. Elevate service equipment and utilities
Elevating essential utilities and service equipment can prevent electrocution and home damage during a flood. Professionals recommend raising switches, sockets, and electric outlets at least one to two feet above the estimated flood elevation in your property. Doing so will make sure your electrics are safe, and it will be one less hassle and cost to stress about when the water is gone.
3. Never delay repairing leaks
Leaky roofs and pipelines can let water into your home and cause significant water damage when neglected. Watch for pooling water in your basement and see if there are wet areas on the ceiling. Regularly examine your pipes and look for problems like buckling, noticeable drops of water, and rust. Should you find leakages in the mentioned areas, resolve them immediately.
Otherwise, you’ll have to hire a remediation company when these cause severe water damage.
4. Install flood detection systems or water sensors
There are many options for water sensors, detection systems, and alarms to alert you if there are leakages or water within your property. Complex detection systems can also be connected to your home security system or smart home to inform you of water before it becomes a significant disaster. Water sensors can help prevent unattended water damage and mold growth.
Some individuals only discover mold growth when it has already caused notable damage, partly due to the lack of water sensors. This is commonly the reason why they hire mold remediation professionals. Does your home have mold-infested areas? You should not postpone its removal to prevent respiratory conditions and structural damage.
If you’re looking for companies to address the molds in your home, you may search for “mold removal near me” for accurate results.
5. Keep your rain gutters clean
Clogged downspouts and rain gutters can cause water pools, so making gutter maintenance a part of your fall and spring routines can enhance your flood defense. Add leaf guards and regularly remove leaves from the gutter to prevent debris buildup. Consider adding downspout extenders for additional protection against water pools. Make sure it directs water away from your home for at least 10 feet away.
