6 Precautions You Can Take to Prevent Flood Damage in Your Home

Homeowners are always looking for ways to protect their houses because owning one is expensive. You have to maintain many parts of your house, and flooding that can be avoided is a needless expense. There are many ways that your house can get water damage, including nature, broken pipes, and broken appliances. But there are also ways to prevent flooding and water damage or minimize the damage, so here are some of the best techniques you can use before you have water damage.

Update Your Equipment

Your water heater and other equipment that holds large amounts of water can break. As water heaters age, they can begin to corrode on the bottom, which can cause them to leak.  This can cause water damage to a section of the house, but you can prevent this by monitoring your water heater and replacing it before it corrodes.

Install Sensors

If you want to know early on, even when you’re sleeping, if your house is in danger of flooding, then you should install sensors. Some security systems connect to other home safety equipment to help watch dangerous conditions, including flood sensors. These can help protect your home and valuables from damage. And even if it warns you just a half-hour earlier, you could save yourself thousands of dollars in damage. In fact, you could even know about a leak if you were on vacation because they automatically send a report to your smartphone or tablet when they’re part of your smart home system.

Install a Sump Pump

If you live in a low-lying area that receives a lot of rain and snow, you might need a sump pump if you don’t already have one. Additionally, if you already have one, but it’s old, you should have it checked. When spring melts, snow and rain hit many country regions; water can quickly enter the home through the basement. And if you have a finished basement, you could have thousands of dollars of damage.

Have the Lawn Graded Away from the House

When lawns are graded toward the house, this directs a lot of water toward the foundation. Even if you have a sump pump that can keep up with the water entering the basement, it won’t help with the house’s exterior. Excess water that pools near the house can cause foundation problems and rot wood siding. So, it’s well worth it to have your yard graded properly if you notice pooling around the foundation of your house.

Apply Sealant

Another way to prevent moisture from entering certain parts of the home is to apply a sealant on the inside. Sealants can prevent leaks from getting through the concrete, saving you a lot of money. Even a little bit of water can cause mold to form if it sits there for a couple of weeks, which can cause many health problems, especially for those who suffer from allergies. You might need to seal certain windows near the lower exterior of the house, but you should also look into sealing the foundations. Even small cracks can let in a lot of water. You can use plenty of materials, such as hydraulic cement and masonry caulk. In a pinch, temporary weatherproofing measures can also mitigate the damage.

Keep Sandbags on Hand

If you live in an area that often floods, such as near the banks of a river or lake, you likely already know how some sandbags can redirect water away from your home. If you don’t already have some, finding sandbags is worthwhile before the banks’ overflow.

There are many ways your house can become damaged by water, both from leaks from the house’s exterior and broken equipment inside the home. There are also numerous ways to completely avoid some problems and have plenty of time to minimize the damage when completely averting water is impossible. Take on a project a weekend, and in a few months, you’ll feel much more comfortable that your home is safe from flooding.