How To Protect Your Home Against Water Damage From Flooding
If you live in an area that is labeled a "flood zone," you would need to purchase a separate insurance policy for this if you want to be protected against floods; however, even if you do not live in an area prone to flooding, you may still end up with a flooded home. In most cases, though, you can prevent flooding from occurring in your home by taking the right steps to protect your house against the potential for water damage from a major storm. Here are several ways to do this.
Clean and maintain your gutters
Most people do not fully understand the purpose of gutters and, therefore, they do not always take the time to maintain them as they should. Your gutters control all the water that comes from rain and lands on your house. If they are dirty and full of leaves, they cannot function as they should be. If this is the case, you might end up with water around your foundation and inside your basement or crawlspace. You can prevent this by cleaning your gutters at least once a year.
Install and monitor a sump pump system
Secondly, make sure you have a sump pump in your crawlspace or basement, as this is the device that helps pump water away from your home. Without one, there is no way to move water away from your house when it rises too high or gets too close to your house. It is also important not only to have a sump pump but to test it periodically to ensure that it will work when needed.
Repair any drainage issues in your yard
You can also protect your house from storm flooding by fixing any drainage issues you have in your yard. If you have areas near your house that are too low, you could add sand or dirt to these areas to raise them up. Doing this will help water flow away from your home instead of into it.
Repair your roof as needed
Finally, it is your responsibility to repair and replace your roof as needed. A leaky roof will lead to water issues in a home, and these will not likely be covered by your homeowner's insurance if caused by a lack of maintenance to your roof.
Most homes that end up flooded from a bad storm end up with water damage to a problem with one of these issues. If you want to protect your home, follow these tips and make sure you have a good homeowner's insurance policy in place. You can learn more about homeowner's policies by talking to your home insurance agent.
