3 Ways To Flood Proof Your Home

7/27/2022 (Permalink)

Flood damage in Homer City, PA.

Protect Your House From Flood Damage

Floods are the most weather disaster in America. The heavy rains that accompany hurricanes and other major storms can cause lots of harm to your Homer City, PA, house. In fact, floods caused more than $260 billion in damage to American property between 1980 and 2013. Storms have only become more frequent and powerful since then, so many homeowners are interested in flood safety.
Luckily, there are some ways to flood proof your home. The below steps should help you protect your house from flood damage.

1. Alter Your Water Valves
During a flood, it is not just rainwater that enters your home. Your sewer system could back up, forcing contaminated sewage inside the property. To prevent this, install backflow valves on all of your pipes.

2. Protect Your Climate and Electrical Systems
Any anchored indoor equipment, including your water heater and furnace, should be placed above the expected flood level of your home. Your circuit breakers, switches, wiring and sockets must be elevated as well. For maximum flood safety, they should be at least a foot above the flood level.

3. Elevate Outdoor Equipment
Similarly, any air conditioners, generators or fuel tanks outside your home should be raised and anchored. This is particularly important for generators. After all, if your generator remains on the ground, it could get easily overcome by floodwater.
You should implement most of these measures well before the storm arrives. Yet there are safety tips you can use once the waters start to rise, as well. As the flooding begins, make sure to shut off the electricity in your home. You should also put your major appliances onto concrete blocks and move your belongings to the top floors of the home.
While the above flood safety strategies should reduce the flood damage to your home, the water may still cause extensive harm to your walls and floors. Emergency restoration specialists can repair your house and any items inside of it that are affected by the storm.