Flooding in your home is a problem that can make a huge impact on your life. And that impact is guaranteed to be negative. To start with, the average costs of water damage cleanup and repair is $1,144-4,423. And that fact that thatโs the โaverageโ number means that quite often the costs will be many times bigger than that number. Also, not all of them might be covered by the insurance company. And thatโs not even to mention extra problems that can result from water damage, such as mold.
So, flooding can be a huge problem and the best thing you can do is to protect your home from it in every way possible. Thereโs no way to make your house 100% flood-proof, but you can minimize the risks as well as the extent of damage significantly with the following precautions.
Install foundation vents
Thereโs a lot of talk today about how foundation vents only make your crawlspace more humid. However, thereโs a reason why they are still included in the building code requirements. In case of flooding, these vents will be a huge help because they will allow the water to flow through your foundation, thus reducing the damage.
Of course, youโll have to clean and treat your crawlspace afterward. However, the immediate benefits of allowing water to flow through instead of accumulating in house outweigh those costs.
Install backwater valves
If you donโt have it now, you need to research the backwater valve installation and cost ASAP. And then you need to find a way to fit this expense into your budget at the earliest opportunity. This valve is the most basic and therefore essential protection you can use inside your house to reduce flooding damage.
This particular type of protection is all the more important because it will reduce or even prevent sewage waters from getting inside your home. This is not only important due to the gross factor but because cleaning up and fixing this kind of water damage costs a lot more. If a sewage spill has been a trouble for you, consider using the services of sewage cleanup Akron.
Itโs classed as Category 3 damage and can cause a variety of sanitary problems down the line.
All in all, having a backwater valve in every place where you can install it is a must.
Raise all electricals
One big change that you also need to do as soon as possible is raising all your electrical sockets, fuse boxes, and appliances. Wiring also needs to be at least 1.5 meters above the floor. And if the area you live in is prone to flooding, you need to talk to an electrician and follow their advice. There might be extra protections possible to reduce the risks even further.
This protection can save your very life, so make it your priority. Also, store and mount your more expensive appliances as high up as you can.
Install flood sensors
If the risk of flooding is high where you live, top-quality flood sensors will be a wise investment. They will alert you as soon as water appears where it shouldnโt so you can move on to minimize the damage fast. Turning on the pumps and setting out additional barriers should be your first steps.
Be prepared for everything
No one wants to get flooded, but you need to be prepared for this eventuality. Installing the aforementioned protections is a big part of that. However, you also need to provide extra protection to your most valuable items.
If your location warrants it, have a flood kit with essentials as well as waterproof pouches that hold your documents and important survival equipment. Even if you donโt live in a high-risk area, having that kind of kit on hand is always smart. Also, make sure your valuables are stored in cases that are easy to pick up if you need to evacuate (or make a run for it) in a hurry.
