Flood Protection Can Help Your Home
If you live in an area that experiences frequent flooding, flood protection of your home can be one of the most important things you can do. Protecting your home can help to ensure that it will still be standing after the disaster is over. There are a few things you can do to help this.
You should check the gutters on your home and make sure they are clear and free from leaves and debris. Making sure that they are in good condition can also help to keep them working properly. You should also check where they drain off, and if they dump all the water right at the foundation, you should extend these out some distance from the house so you can keep damage at a minimum. You should also make inspection and cleaning a part of your routine maintenance so they remain in good working order all of the time.
Waterproofing your home may also be a good option. This can be bought from any hardware store and the latex based paint can help to keep water from causing damage to the wall. You may also want to consider using a water shield on your roof if you have to do any repairs, so that it can keep water from damaging the top as well.
Gardens can also cause damage during a flood. If they are too close to the house, the soil can hold the water and actually help the flooding get into your home. You will want to make sure that they are away from the house and you may want to consider landscaping with plants that can help to keep the top soil in place which in turn can also help keep the mud out of your home.
You should do a check of your electrical system to make sure it is in good working order and there are no bare wires that can cause injury should it get wet. You also need to make sure the main power lines are all above where the water may rise. Washers and dryers and furnaces should be placed on masonry, or moved to upper levels of the house if you have a basement. Breaker boxes, too, should be on upper levels to prevent any damage from flooding.
If you own a basement you should invest in a sump pump. When it is installed, you should also make sure to have back up power to work it, and then check it periodically to confirm that it is in good working order. While this can be an expensive purchase, it can also help to remove water quickly from your home and allow the damage to be less than waiting for the water to drain naturally.
One of the most important things you do need to have is insurance. While many home insurance plans will not cover this, the National Flood Insurance Plan can give you some protection against the damage. This policy can be used for not only homeowners, but for renters as well. Since they do have a short waiting period, you need to make sure you are covered long before the flood season starts.
You should check the gutters on your home and make sure they are clear and free from leaves and debris. Making sure that they are in good condition can also help to keep them working properly. You should also check where they drain off, and if they dump all the water right at the foundation, you should extend these out some distance from the house so you can keep damage at a minimum. You should also make inspection and cleaning a part of your routine maintenance so they remain in good working order all of the time.
Waterproofing your home may also be a good option. This can be bought from any hardware store and the latex based paint can help to keep water from causing damage to the wall. You may also want to consider using a water shield on your roof if you have to do any repairs, so that it can keep water from damaging the top as well.
Gardens can also cause damage during a flood. If they are too close to the house, the soil can hold the water and actually help the flooding get into your home. You will want to make sure that they are away from the house and you may want to consider landscaping with plants that can help to keep the top soil in place which in turn can also help keep the mud out of your home.
You should do a check of your electrical system to make sure it is in good working order and there are no bare wires that can cause injury should it get wet. You also need to make sure the main power lines are all above where the water may rise. Washers and dryers and furnaces should be placed on masonry, or moved to upper levels of the house if you have a basement. Breaker boxes, too, should be on upper levels to prevent any damage from flooding.
If you own a basement you should invest in a sump pump. When it is installed, you should also make sure to have back up power to work it, and then check it periodically to confirm that it is in good working order. While this can be an expensive purchase, it can also help to remove water quickly from your home and allow the damage to be less than waiting for the water to drain naturally.
One of the most important things you do need to have is insurance. While many home insurance plans will not cover this, the National Flood Insurance Plan can give you some protection against the damage. This policy can be used for not only homeowners, but for renters as well. Since they do have a short waiting period, you need to make sure you are covered long before the flood season starts.