FLOOD RISK

Is Your Home at Risk of Flooding?

Dealing with a flood is no small task. Thousands of dollars of damage can be done as water rapidly rushes into your home. The best way to prevent a flood is to take preventative action. Knowing the weak points in your home will allow you to fix them before a storm hits or a pipe bursts. Learn the warning signs that your home could be at risk of flooding and find out how to correct them.

Frequent Clogs & Back-Ups

Faulty plumbing is not only inconvenient, but it could also lead to much bigger issues, such as flooding. Do you find that you frequently have plumbing issues, such as back-ups and clogged pipes? This could be a sign that not all is right with your plumbing.

When there is a blockage in your pipes, especially if it’s the pipe that connects your plumbing to your water supply, there is a chance water will flow back through your basement drains. This will result in a pool of water on your basement floors. If left untreated or unnoticed, water will continue to leak through, causing mold to form. If left long enough you will have a flooded basement to deal with.

Water Near Foundation

If your foundation is not properly sealed, you could have potential flooding issues. Did you know that the most common source of a flooded basement is caused by water pooling on the ground near your home? If your foundation is not properly sealed, this pooling water can start to drip down into your home and cause bigger issues.

Pools of water can be caused by a number of factors. For example, this water could come from overflowing gutters, leaking faucets, or downspouts pointed in the wrong direction. Something as simple as holes in your landscaping could lead to a pool of water and a potential flood issue.


Downward Slanting Driveway


Some homes are built so that the garage is below the first level of the home, requiring a downward slanting driveway. If you have a downward slanting driveway this could mean big trouble for your home during heavy rainfall. Typically this style of home has precautions in place to accommodate for rain and snow. While catch basins do a good job of draining runoff water, they can overflow if there is a particularly heavy rainstorm.

If your catch basin cannot contain the excess water, gravity will take over and the water will flow into your garage. To make sure this doesn’t happen, you need to keep your catch basin clean and clear of any debris that could accumulate.

Flat or Sloped Ground

If a downward slanting driveway is a cause for concern, just imagine if all of the ground sloped downwards towards your home. Ideally, the ground should always slope away from your home on every side. This allows rain and snow to naturally flow away from the home. If your home is on land that is very flat or slopes towards your home, you have a potential flooding risk on your hands.

Tiny Cracks & Crevices

Even the smallest of cracks are big enough for water to let through. This is why you need to ensure your foundation is solid and has been professionally waterproofed. Foundation repairs are expensive, so you want to ensure everything is done right the first time.

Proximity to Water

The closer your home is to water, the closer it is to a potential flooding situation. If you’re concerned that your home is in a high-risk area for floods, there are resources to check. You can use websites such as FloodTools to check what the risk level is in your area.