Tips for Protecting Your Home From Floodwater

8/18/2021 (Permalink)

Flooded homes in Kaysville, UT, are common but exist several ways to protect your house from water damage.

Flooding is a common result of extreme weather and causes some of the most common property damage reported to insurance companies. If your Kaysville, UT, home has been exposed to flooding in the past or if you're concerned about the potential for future water damage, it's important to consider flood safety and any steps you can take to keep your home and family above water.

Focus on Staying Above the Water Level

The best way to protect against water damage is to keep your home and belongings higher than the water. Although this isn't always possible, you can learn where the flood level is for your home. With this information, you can focus on the part of your home that is most likely to be damaged. This information may be available through your home insurance provider or the local building department. There are a few steps you can consider at this point:

• Install raised structures, such as concrete blocks, for air conditioning units and other outdoor equipment. Make sure these structures are anchored securely, so floodwater doesn't carry them away.
• Floodproof your home by applying protective sealants and coatings to the walls that will prevent water from seeking into the foundation.
• Add foundation vents to your home to direct water through a path that you determine. This keeps water away from the rest of your house and limits the amount of damage.
• Hire professionals to lift your home on columns or piers, so the lowest level of your home is higher than the flood level.

Direct Water Away From Your Home

Naturally, you'll want to be sure that the grade of the land slopes away from your home. The next time it rains, watch where water pools and flows and then make necessary adjustments. There are several changes you can make to your landscape to floodproof your home and property:

• Install gutters around the roof of your home and keep them clear.
• Create a splash block or drainage area under the downspout to direct water away from the foundation.
• Choose native plants that support the soil in Kaysville, UT.
• Add a drainage system, such as a rain garden, swale, rain barrels, sump pump, or French drain.

If you see a lot of standing water in the street after a rainstorm, contact your county planning department for further suggestions to increase flood safety around your home.

Install Backflow Valves

Flooded sewer systems are an unpleasant result of natural flooding. You can prevent sewage from backing up into your home by installing backflow valves on all pipes that enter your home. Make sure that these are operational with regular inspections.

Keep Yourself and Your Family Safe

When flooding does occur, your top priority should be your well-being and that of your loved ones. This means following flood safety tips, such as not driving into pools of water, staying out of floodwater, turning off the electricity to your home, and contacting water damage cleanup and repair professionals.

The best time to tackle flood safety is before the clouds come out. Review these tips and reach out to your insurance provider or local environmental professionals for more advice.