Tips to make your basement flood-proof

Flood is a natural disaster that can literally uproot your whole life. Nothing about a flood is good. There is very little that you can do as an individual that could stop the flood from coming into your home. But, you could certainly do a lot to make sure that your house, especially your basement is safe and protected in case of a flood whether it is caused naturally or because of a burst pipe or other man-made mistakes.

1. Get a backwater valve

Floods in the basement can also be caused because of reasons like municipal sewage seeping into your basement. You could be smart and prevent any such thing from happening by installing a backwater valve. You have to be careful while placing the backwater valve so that it doesn’t leak through other places and flood the basement as it would defeat the whole purpose of getting the machine in the first place.

2. Get a sump pump

If for some reason you are unable to install a backwater valve in your basement then getting a sump pump would be the next best option. It would be a good idea to install a sump that is operated with batteries so that it won’t stop in case the electricity gets cut in a storm or flood.

3. A clean gutter

It is probably one of the most underestimated yet necessary things that you could do, which would lessen the chances of your basement getting flooded. If the gutter is not clean and it gets clogged then the runoff water would overflow from the gutters and could easily seep into the basement and flood it. Taking a little bit of your time to regularly clean the leaves, twigs, and other types of debris from the gutter would really go a long way. You could also run down water after you are done cleaning to make sure that the water is flowing smoothly.

4. Elevate the AC unit or the boiler

The utilities such as the boiler or even the central air conditioning unit are generally located at the lowest point in the household, which is the basement. This increases the chances of water damage in the basement area. You could consider building platforms for them so that the risk of a flood or water damage decreases to a minimum level.
You could also think about moving them to a different floor altogether as it is harder to clean the basement if water damage occurs. This is because the basement is usually damp as there is no sunlight or natural warmth from the sun.

5. Get flood insurance

If your place of residence is within 100 years of a floodplain then getting a flood insurance is necessary. You are required by the law to have insurance if you have a federally backed mortgage and live in a flood-prone area.

6. Change the way of your landscape

If your backyard or the front yard is porous then the chances of the excess water getting absorbed by the ground are more. On the other hand, if the ground is not porous, the water would slide right into the house and would damage the basement area the most. Hence, consider changing your landscape to avoid damage to your basement.

These are some of the precautions that you could take that would help not only to make your basement flood-proof but the tips would also help to minimize the damage in case water seeps in somehow. If the water remains in the basement for a long time then it could cause some serious damage and could possibly make it unsuitable for living. In order to repair it and to make it good again, a lot of money would have to be spent. But, taking some simple measures could avoid the problem and lessen the damage as well.

We are always ready to take on the flood damage restoration jobs. We are just one phone call away.