Home flooding can be a devastating experience, not only damaging personal possessions but also creating serious health and safety concerns.
No matter if it floods due to external circumstances such as extreme weather or internal issues like plumbing failure, or both. Once you realize your house has flooded due to either external or internal reasons, there are several steps you should take immediately in order to safeguard you and your loved ones, salvage items from flooding, and claim reimbursement from insurance providers.
Drainage Issues
Flooding can occur anywhere along a river, lake or ocean – it is inevitable! But with proper landscaping and home maintenance practices in place, flooding doesn’t have to be an ongoing threat – you can take steps now to prevent flooding from ruining your day!
Flooding issues typically stem from poor drainage on properties. When water accumulates in basements or crawlspaces without being adequately graded, rot or even foundational failure may ensue. Gutter overflow and downspouts that do not pipe away rain gutter water are also frequent contributors to flooding problems; using anti-clog liquids such as Drano to clear drains is not advised as these products could corrode pipes causing even greater issues down the line.
Regrading your yard to divert water away from the house and into specific areas may be necessary to ensuring optimal results. For instance, if your yard slopes toward your house or has paved surfaces that attract rainwater to certain spots in your garden, installing a French drain could help channel rainwater away from trouble spots and into desirable spaces.
If you own old sewage lines or a septic tank, it’s vital that they be checked regularly so as to prevent organic matter from backwashing into your home and flooding it with organic matter. This is one of the leading causes of home flooding and it could prove costly if your plumbing system isn’t kept up-to-date.
Trees
Properly planted trees offer homeowners numerous advantages, including reduced stormwater runoff, shade from sunlight and protecting soils from becoming compacted. But regular flooding can create problems for homeowner landscaping as well as mold and mildew growth in their home – trees can help slow the flow of floodwaters while simultaneously keeping contaminants out through their roots and into drinking water supplies.
Selecting the appropriate tree species and species is key when it comes to landscaping your property and location. There’s no point planting trees that prefer dry, free-draining soil in an area prone to becoming saturated with water over extended periods, as their oxygen needs become diminished when their roots swell up with excess liquid causing oxygen deprivation resulting in their death quickly.
When choosing tree species that tolerate wet conditions, look for those which are resilient against flooding. Some examples include loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) and water hickory (Hickoryus macrocarpa). Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Eucalyptus ovata can withstand weeks or even months of inundation whereas river red gum and swamp gum varieties of this genus can handle even longer. Maples that produce sap can tolerate wet soil conditions as can sycamore trees (Quercus macrolepis). Other trees that can tolerate flooding include swamp white oak (Quercus macrolepis).
Appliances
Floods and other natural disasters can cause considerable property damage, from personal items to home appliances. But having access to accurate information could help limit or mitigate this loss.
As part of your disaster plan, it is vital that you create and identify what actions will need to be taken should a flood strike your area. This might involve unplugging appliances, installing flood shields and closing barrier gates if necessary. Inspect all removable parts regularly to make sure they remain in good condition and function efficiently.
Appliances exposed to water can become damaged or even destroyed, including their motors and electrical components, highlighting the importance of a health and safety consultant advice on proper appliance use post-flooding. This is particularly dangerous with gas appliances which could develop dangerous leaks. Therefore, it’s essential that any flood victims have their appliances thoroughly inspected to ensure that all motors, electrical controls, and safety features remain undamaged.
After returning home after flooding, it can be tempting to immediately use appliances. But it’s best to wait until all appliances have fully dried before turning on any connected ones if still plugged into power – this will prevent further damages to them and decrease fire and shock risks.
Food that comes into contact with flood water should also be discarded as it could contain chemicals or even sewage waste, potentially making you sick.
Cracks in the Foundation
Cracked foundations can be an indicator of serious foundational issues. Their location, direction and size should help determine their severity.
Hairline cracks less than one quarter in width are not necessarily structurally dangerous; rather they’re caused by concrete shrinkage and should be common among new home builds. Be sure to inspect these hairline cracks at regular intervals over several months for signs of expansion or widening; should this happen, consult with a foundation repair expert immediately for guidance.
Stair-step or diagonal cracks can be telltale signs of foundation movement, especially if they leak water. Such cracks often form because expansive clay-rich soil expands and contracts when moisture changes, or from insufficient drainage around a foundation, leading to hydrostatic pressure pushing against walls causing hydrostatic pressure against foundation walls and leading to hydrostatic pressure within.
If water is entering through an opening wide enough for it to come in through a crack in your home’s foundation, immediate action must be taken. In order to properly address a wide-scale leakage of this sort, its source must also be identified and eliminated as part of any repair plan; sealing up an already wide crack without first addressing its source will only compound future foundational issues further down the road. Renco Tip: Consult multiple foundation professionals regarding their opinions for your specific situation to give yourself peace of mind that there is more than one solution available when searching for lasting solutions that work – this way, giving yourself peace of mind knowing there will always be multiple solutions available and options when choosing repair solutions from various solutions to choose from for permanent repair solutions if required.