10 Ways Flooding Can Damage Your Home and Property
Flood damage can easily wreak havoc on the foundation of your home. So, definitely, many of you would be thinking of protecting your home from water damage. If yes, think again! Tropical storms, thunderstorms, excessive rain, hurricanes, snow, etc., are some commonly recognized causes of flood. But sometimes, floods can also occur due to clogged sewage, overburdened drainage systems, dam failures, paving, etc.
But, if you live in a flood zone area, the chances of the flood may increase. So, the homeowners have to take essential steps to prevent your home from flood damage before any natural disaster. You can take flood damage restoration services in Encinitas from companies and restore your property with their prime services in no time. Let’s discuss how floods can affect your home and property and how you will prevent your home and property from flood damage in Encinitas.
How Flood Can Damage Your Home & Property
Health & Safety Risks
The flood can produce veritable health and safety risks if you don’t take immediate actions to clean up water from your home after flood damage. These risks may include structural damage, contaminated drinking water, and sanitary hazards, cut-off communications, dangerous diseases from standing water, and so many more.
Emotional Hardship
Flood does not only damage your home and property but can also harm your emotions. You may face difficulty coping with situations like depression, anxiety, anger, sadness, fear, grief, and frustration. To get rid of these circumstances, you have to immediately take expert help for flood damage restoration services in Encinitas and make your home better.
Cracks In The Foundation From Flooding
After the flood, the soil starts to absorb water that causes the concrete slab on which your foundation rests to lift or crack. This situation can lead to ruptures in embedded pipes, cracked exterior walls, and a sagging roof.
Furniture, Fixtures, & Floors
Flooding often disrupts sewer systems and other repositories. So, flood water is a nasty brew that consists of sewage, chemical toxins, bacteria, harmful viruses, and mud. You can dry your home after the flood. However, the contaminants in the water can pose a threat to the health of your family. It can also affect rugs, upholstered furniture, vinyl flooring, mattresses, etc., at your home. Therefore, properly clean and disinfect all the items rather than replace them.
Mold Growth From Flooding At Home
When the flooding situation occurs at your property, the mold will grow at your place. After flooding, it may appear within 24 to 48 hours that pose risks like allergies and breathing difficulties to you and your family. If you get rid of mold, you have to clean the surface with a mixture of non-ammonia detergent and bleach solution.
Drywall Difficulties After A Flood
The flooding weakens the walls of your home and can feed mold in it. You will have to repair your drywall if it is crumbling, moldy, or soft. Sometimes, it can damage the insulation of drywalls if it absorbs and holds water for a long time.
Home Flood Damage Appliances
The flood damage can harm or spoil your electrical appliances. So, before the floodwaters rush into your home, you have to unplug all of your electrical appliances. But if your thermostats, outlets, light fixtures, electric heaters, ceiling fans, wiring systems, fuses, etc., were submerged, then you will have to replace them. On the other hand, if your refrigerator, dryer, washer, oven, and microwave, etc., become contaminated with water, you have to examine them by a professional first rather than replace them.
Can Cause Jammed Or Broken Windows & Doors
After flood damage, the foundation of your home can shift. Also, your windows and doors can break. Sometimes, the frames of the windows may get distorted, and the glass in your windows may break. However, if your windows and doors don’t open, it is a sign that damage has occurred due to flooding.
Economical Loss
Not all insurance policies and companies cover flood damage, which can put a huge strain on you and affect you financially. So, if you are living in a flood-affected area, then take proper flood insurance for your home. If you don’t do it, it can take many years to rebuild your house and life to return to normal.
Now, you know the effects of flood damage, let’s find out how to prevent or minimize the damage happening to your house.
Ways To Prevent Or Minimize The Flood Damage In Your Home
The list of potential damages is daunting and endless after flooding. But if you think you can restore your home after flood damage, it is not advisable. You have to hire a professional flood restoration company in Encinitas that restores your damaged home and gives former glory to it.
1. Regularly Check & Clean Drainage Systems
Always check and clean drainage systems to avoid blocking water from passing through. If your home resides in a location where trees and plants are common, it is essential to clean dust, leaves, debris, etc., so that your vent drainage pathways will clear. But in any case, if your drainage system may get blocked, then immediately call the community sewer to clean it. Apart from it, we suggest upgrading drains to a one-way valve to secure the backflow of the water and appoint licensed plumbers for this work.
2. Install Flood Detection & Water Sensor Systems
Flood detection and water sensor systems are add-on equipment for your home security system. There are various types of flood sensors that depend on the safety of your place. These systems can easily detect the smallest amount of water and immediately give you an alert before a flood may happen.
3. Perform A Risk Assessment
A risk assessment evaluates how much your home and property will suffer from a flood. The flood risk assessment also depends on the location of your home. The internet shows colour-coding zones in which you can find which places are most susceptible to flooding. Different zones are mentioned below:
- Blue Zones — Face serious flooding at least once every year
- Orange Zones — Face flooding at least once every 5 years.
- Yellow Zones — Undetermined flood risk areas
- Blue with Red Stripes — Most vulnerable and susceptible areas to flood as these zones face flooding regularly. So, the homeowners need to take extra precautions while purchasing a home near these zones.
4. Check & Seal Your Basement Windows
Always check and seal your basement windows to enhance the water resistance of the low windows or basement. If you have old windows, then it is time to install new windows and replace old ones. As new installing windows have a better seal, it can minimise the chances of water entering your place. On the other hand, the new windows can help with energy efficiency.
5. Fill The Gaps Of Your Foundation
If you notice any small crack in any corner of your house, then you have to repair it as soon as possible. It can be an opportunity for water to enter your home after a flood. You can apply sealants and coatings to fill these cracks and gaps in the walls, doorways, windows, and foundation to prevent flood water from leaking into your place. But still, if the water seems to leak continuously, you should call the professional for a permanent solution.
6. Reposition Your Lawn Away From Your Home
Many homeowners like to have a beautiful garden or lawn to settle their minds. But a garden may also endanger their lives if not properly managed. And it increases the chances of flooding because plants can absorb water. Through it, flood water can easily find its way inside the basement and doorsteps of your home. In such situations, you can redesign and change the position of your lawn by professionals to avoid flood damage.
7. Elevate Power Sources & Switches
When water and electricity meet, properties may get most dramatically damaged, and lives will be in danger. After flooding, there is the threat of electrocution that will be everywhere. Thus, always elevate one foot above the flood level outlets, circuit breakers, sockets, switches, etc., to prevent electrical damage. But if you know a flood is coming, immediately turn off all the electrical sources to ensure safety. Apart from that, you can protect the power sources and outlets with electrical cover and avoid floodwater.
8. Try Waterproofing Your Valuables
You not only need to protect your house from the flood but also your valuable items that possess sentimental emotions. You must keep these items in amazing storage areas. You have to keep your valuable documents like passports, birth certificates, insurance papers, bank files, etc., on the top of your shelves or drawers. Besides this, you may use zip lock bags to protect your documents from floodwater. Aside from it, homeowners can also elevate their appliances such as electricity generators, washers, dryers, air conditioning units, and water heaters, and more to minimise the effects of flood damage in Encinitas.
9. Install Flood Barriers
These are removable flood control systems that can be immediately established once a flood warning is given to a specified area. Flood barriers are also called a floodgate. It can fix the wall on either side of your door that seems like simple equipment. But these systems are costly, so everyone can not afford to install them. So, you can also use sandbags and protect your place from getting flooded.
10. Install Foundation Vents Or A Sump Pump
Sump pumps are an amazing way to keep your home and property safe from flooding. It is a constructed pit and located in your house’s basement. It is very useful to eliminate water from the water collecting basins. Some sump pumps are electrically powered, and during flood situations, it shuts down. Therefore, always install a battery-powered sump pump that is more efficient and works better during a natural disaster.
Take Preventive Steps When Flooding Begins At Your Place
If the flooding has started or is imminent, then you must follow steps to reduce the chances of water damage due to flooding:
- If the water line is the source of the flooding, then shut it down.
- Use sandbags to fill the gaps at your place as it can lead to flooding.
- Immediately clear out drains and gutters so that water can flow freely during the flood.
- Don’t forget to turn off the electricity at the breaker panel.
- Also, move furniture, rugs, mattresses, curtains, valuable items, electronics things, etc., or elevate them.
- Use a shop vacuum or switch on your sump pump to eliminate water as quickly as possible.
- Open up the door and windows of your home to allow air to flow through your home if it is not raining. The air can quickly dry things at your home.
Originally published at https://www.ezrestorationusa.com on May 10, 2022.
