Photo Courtesy Facebook User: Emmerson Mac

Flooding is one of the most serious risks to a home’s safety and integrity. While there are ways to reduce the damage and stay safe after a flood, it’s always best to prevent it from happening at all! The thought of a flood might feel overwhelming, but there are actions you can take right now to protect your home:

1. Apply Waterproof Coatings and Sealants

The right sealants will provide a tight, waterproof seal against water infiltration through the foundation, walls, windows, and doors. In addition to preventing floods and leaks, sealants can also prevent pests from entering a home through these “secret passages.”

2. Grade Your Lawn Away from Your Home

If your lawn tilts toward your home, it creates a natural low point where water will be driven during a flood. You can regrade your lawn using heavy soil. Clay and sand content will strengthen the new grade and provide water absorbing properties if a flood threatens.

3. Invest in a Sump Pump

Although it might not keep your home bone dry, a sump pump is an ideal way to confine a flood to the basement and keep water levels low there, too. Sump pumps are used to pump out areas subject to frequent flooding. Be sure you use a model with a battery backup so it still works if power goes out.

4. Point Downspouts Away from Your Home

Improperly drained gutter runoff can cause you to face flood conditions in your own home long after a storm starts to abate. Always make sure your downspout is pointed away from your home and in an appropriate direction so runoff can drain harmlessly away from the foot of the building.

To get expert advice on protecting your home from floods, contact the team at Syles Mechanical.