5 Ways To Prepare a Home for Flooding

5/3/2022 (Permalink)

Five Steps to Flood-Proofing Your Home

With flood risks on the rise, your home in Arlington Manor, FL, may be at risk. Although preventing flooding may not be possible, there are ways to prepare your home and minimize the damage that a professional water and storm damage restoration company will have to repair.

1. Ensure Proper Drainage

An essential way to minimize flood damage is to ensure that the grading around your home is at the right angle. There should be a slope away from the foundation. If you have noticed pools after a rain shower, it is time to bring in some dirt. To further enhance drainage, consider doing some landscaping with mulch and plants known to have high water needs.

2. Inspect the Foundation and Basement

Even the smallest crack in the foundation may lead to big problems. Inspecting the foundation and basement windows should be on the annual to-do list. Check for any signs of leaks, cracks, broken seals, missing caulk or broken masonry.

3. Install Flooding Prevention Systems

If your home is in a high-risk area, there are different systems on the market that detect unwanted water. These are electronic devices that alert the homeowner of excess water before it becomes a major problem. Many of these can also be tied to other smart-home devices.

4. Clean Gutters and Drains

If the gutters are dirty, the rain won’t drain properly. Instead, it will push out of the sides and straight down to the foundation. For homes in areas with many trees, the gutters should be cleaned at least twice a year. Ditches and drains should also be inspected to ensure there is no blockage.

5. Keep Barriers Accessible

Once the rain starts to pour down, you may not be able to keep it out. You can slow the flow by having sandbags on-site. There are also other innovative barrier systems designed for flood prevention that are easy to use and help divert water.
While flooding may not be totally avoidable, there are ways to minimize the risk and prepare your home to battle the storm.