No matter where you live, floods can happen. Between natural disasters, burst pipes, and water mains breaking, your home can quickly become susceptible to a flood. While most floods are not preventable by homeowners, there are some ways to reduce or even prevent flood damage. Here are a few tips on how to prepare for and prevent home floods.
1. Check Your Zone and Make a Plan
Being prepared for a flood means knowing your flood-zone risk. This is the first line of defense to properly prepare for any and all home floods. Even if you find that you’re in a low-risk area, it is still important to know what to do in case a flood should occur. After you know your flood-zone risk you can make a flood emergency plan. This should include maintaining an emergency flood kit along with having an evacuation plan and shelter.
2. Maintain Your Emergency Flood Kit
Having an emergency flood kit is pointless if it is not stocked and ready to go. Make sure to keep your kit stocked with non-perishable foods, first aid supplies, flashlights, and whatever else you may need in a flood. You never know when a flood can happen, so make sure that your emergency flood kit is completely stocked and ready at all times.
3. Double-Check Your Insurance
When preparing for a flood, it’s important to think about your finances. Having flood insurance can help alleviate a lot of stress after a flood damages your home. However, the situation can also quickly turn stressful if the flood isn’t covered by insurance. Not all floods are covered by insurance, which could leave you in a sticky situation if you aren’t careful. Make sure to double-check your insurance to see what your flood coverage looks like.
4. Take Some Preventative Measures
While not all floods are preventable, there are some ways to reduce or even prevent the amount of flood damage that is caused. Installing reflux valves and a sump pump is a great place to start. Reflux valves, or one-way valves, are installed in the pipes that lead to your sinks and tubs. These valves help to prevent any backup through your drains during a flood. A sump pump focuses on prevention in the lower levels of your home. They require annual checkups to keep them operating efficiently but help to draw stormwater and groundwater away from your home. Both reflux valves and sump pumps can help drastically reduce the amount of home damage caused by floods.
Even if you don’t live in a high-risk flood zone, it is still possible for your home to flood. Home floods are sudden and destructive. Taking the time to take these few preventative measures will help protect both your home and your finances. At Cleaning and Restoration Specialists, we are experienced in helping restore your home after a flood. We have the skills and tools to put your home back together. If you’re ready to get rid of your flood damage, contact Cleaning and Restoration Specialists today!
