4 Tips for Preventing Flood Damage

8/25/2022 (Permalink)

If you have flood damage, water restoration specialists can help you recover.

Four Guidelines to Avoid Flood Damage

When you live in an area that flood frequently, you know that you need to have a flood safety plan. Even when you don't live in a place that experiences frequent flooding, it is a good idea to think about ways to protect your home in case a storm hits. Here are four safety tips for preventing flood damage to your home in Brentwood, CA, so that you aren't left without a plan.

1. Devise a Plan for Water Flow

As rain falls, you want the runoff to actually run off and away from your home. Keep all gutters and rain spouts clear so that water can run off your roof without pooling. Point rain spouts away from the house. Make sure the grading around your house directs water away from your foundation.

2. Add Flood Resistant Measures

There are changes you can make to your home to essentially floodproof the building. Install flood safety backflow valves on all pipes that enter your home. Consider installing foundation vents to give groundwater space to flow through a designated space in your house instead of seeping into places it's unwelcome.

3. Raise Indoor and Outdoor Electrical Equipment

All electrical sockets and switches should be installed well above the flood line. Large appliances such as your furnace should be anchored above the flood level as well. Outdoor equipment, particularly those items that could contribute to contamination if flooded, should be raised.

4. Have a Flood Emergency Plan

Despite all your efforts, sometimes storms are so bad that you cannot prevent your home from flooding. If you are under a flood warning, move everything you can, particularly electronics, furniture, and textiles, to an upper floor or the highest point you can reach. Shut off the electricity and elevate appliances you can't fully move.

If you have flood damage, water restoration specialists can help you recover. By taking preliminary flood safety measures, though, you can minimize the damage the flood does to your home.