On a regular basis, Mother Nature shows us just how powerful she can be. From tornados and earthquakes to hurricanes and floods, there’s often nothing we can do to prevent a disaster. However, proper preparedness can help keep you and your family safe and help reduce the amount of damage your property sustains. If you’re concerned about flooding in your area, our water damage contractors in Lawrence, KS, have put together a few tips that can help minimize water damage to your home should your neighborhood become flooded.
Install a Sump Pump
This is a great solution for homes with basements, which are much more likely to flood during periods of heavy rain. A sump pump can help pump the water out of your home if your basement begins to leak. Please note that this isn’t a system designed to handle torrential floodwaters. However, if heavy rains cause water to seep in through your basement windows, a sump pump can prevent that water from pooling by pumping it out quickly. Make sure you use a sump pump with battery backup in case the storm knocks out your power; that way, your sump pump will keep working no matter what.
Grade Your Lawn Properly
It’s no secret that water runs downhill. So, you want to ensure that your home isn’t sitting at the bottom of a miniature hill on your property. Have the grade of your landscaping inspected to make sure it slopes away from your home, rather than towards it. If the slope runs towards your home, rainwater will, too; this allows the water to accumulate around your home, making it more likely to seep in and start flooding your space.
Raise Your Outlets
No, this won’t keep water out of your home—but it will help minimize the risk of serious electrical damage if flooding does occur. As almost anyone can tell you, water and electricity are a bad mix, and one of the major expenses associated with restoring a home after a flood is repairing the electrical systems. If the outlets are higher, it’s less likely that water will seep into them. You should aim to have your outlets, switches, sockets, and circuit breakers at least 1 foot above flood level.
Seal Your Home
Certain coatings and sealants can help prevent water from seeping into your foundation, basement, and other parts of your home. Apply them to your foundation, walls, windows, and doorways to help keep floodwater from leaking in through the cracks. This is especially important for basements and crawlspaces.
Maintain Your Plumbing
Not all sources of flooding are external. In fact, you’re probably more likely to have your home flooded by a burst pipe than by a natural disaster. So, make sure that you’re regularly inspecting and maintaining your plumbing system. If you keep it in good shape, you’re a lot less likely to experience water damage due to plumbing issues.
If you do end up experiencing residential water damage in Lawrence, KS, contact Emergency Mitigation Services for rapid water removal and mold mitigation.