How To Prevent Flooding In Your Home

There are some proactive steps you can take to prevent flooding in your home. First, make sure that your gutters are free of debris and leaves. You’ll also want to ensure your downspouts are positioned far enough away from your home so the water flowing through does not end up back in your house. Regularly inspect your roof and windows for cracks, openings and worn out seals that could let water in during a severe storm. 

Floodwaters can also happen when your drains are backed up,so having a video inspection of your sewer pipe and drains can help to detect problems early on. 

HRS Restoration Services has been providing home flood protection to Denver homeowners for nearly two decades. We know how to stop flooding and ways to prevent flooding. Our team of experienced professionals are standing by and able to respond right away! 

Call us for more information or to schedule your appointment today.

Knowing Your Flood Risk

FEMA flood maps divide areas into three zones based on the risk of flooding. It’s helpful to know where your home or business lies on this map. 

Once you know the zone you’re in, you can take appropriate measures to prevent flooding or mitigate it if it is more than likely to occur. Below we discuss the four types of FEMA flood zones that include blue, orange, yellow and blue with red stripes. 

Blue Zones

Blue zones are least likely to flood based on historical data. These are the 1% annual-chance zones with a significant chance of flooding at least once every 100 years. Although 1% may seem like a minimal figure, FEMA still considers this to be a high-risk designation, and homeowners should still take preventative measures.

Orange Zones

These are 0.2% annual-chance zones. FEMA states that orange zones are likely to face significant flooding at least once every 500 years. Since these regions face lower flooding risk than blue zones, your flood insurance coverage will be less expensive. But don’t forget that your risk of flooding from leaks and excessive surface runoff can still happen.

Yellow Zones

Yellow zones describe an undetermined flood risk. If you live or are looking to buy property in a yellow zone, we recommend researching the area’s flood history. Ask neighbors who have been in the area and check in with an appraiser or insurance agent to determine what features help or hurt your chances of experiencing a flood. 

Blue With Red Stripes

These are regulatory floodways. This zone often includes a river and its surrounding floodplain, and is usually kept clear in order to allow water to drain from adjacent flood zones. However, some houses were built in or near these zones. Homes in blue and red stripe zones require precautions to protect it from flooding.

Flood Prevention Tips

Homeowners have several opportunities to prevent their homes from flooding. They may choose to raise the ground floor level with stilts or other structures or install foundation vents or a sump pump if they live in an area with excessive snow or rain. 

Homeowners can also flood proof their homes with coatings and sealants and ensure moisture rich mulch is far from their foundation. Some homeowners also opt to install check valves to prevent pipe backflow. 

Other flood prevention steps include installing flood sensors, keeping downspouts far from your home and changing the slope of your yard. We discuss these flood prevention techniques in more detail below. 

Place Home On Stilts Or Pipes

Major construction is an expensive step but if you live in a floodplain or near the coast, consider raising your house’s flood level with stilts. If you have a basement, consider installing a sump pump. 

The sump pump’s purpose is to “pump” water out of your house and into another area, such as a storm drain. Raising your home sounds like a big step but remember, it only takes an inch of flood water to cause significant damage. 

Install Foundation Vents / Sump Pump

Foundation vents, a form of “wet flood-proofing,” allow water to flow through your home, rather than pool around it. This  provides an outlet for flood water and relieves the water pressure on your walls and basement windows. 

Sump pumps are frequently used to pump water out of basements where flooding happens regularly. We recommend a sump pump with a battery backup in case the power goes out.If you have a basement, consider installing a sump pump. The sump pump’s purpose is to “pump” water out of your house and into another area, such as a storm drain.

Use Dry Flood-Proofing Coatings & Sealants

A form of “dry flood-proofing,” coatings and sealants that you apply to your foundation, walls, windows and doorways help prevent flood water from leaking into your house through cracks.

Install Check Valves On Pipes

Ensure all pipes entering your house have valves to prevent a flooded sewage system from backing up into your home. Gate valves are preferred over flap valves, and provide a better seal against the pressure of flood waters. 

Keep Wet Mulch Away From Foundation

Wet mulch shouldn’t be pushed up right against your home. It can have a rotting effect on siding and result in leaks. Homeowners need to keep ample distance between mulch and siding so your home can completely dry after rainstorms.

Point Downspouts Away From Home

You want to have at least 10 feet of distance between where your downspouts ends and your home’s foundation. This lessens the chance that water from rains and storms will eventually end up in your basement. Your goal is to direct the water flow away from your home. 

Install Flood Sensors 

Flood sensors have come a long way. These days they are wireless, battery operated, and even linkable to your smartphone. This is helpful if you are away from your home or business and wouldn’t otherwise be able to detect a flooding incident. 

A water or flood sensor can detect water leaks and extreme freezing temperatures (think burst pipes!) and notifies you ASAP so you can respond in person or call a professional to assist.  

Make Sure Lawn Is Graded Away From Home

If your yard is sloped toward your house, rainwater will pool around your home. If possible, bring in heavy clay soil and sand to regrade your yard. This way surface runoff empties into an appropriate place, such as a street gutter or exterior french drain. 

What To Do If Your Home Is Flooding

While flood prevention tips can help, if your home is taking in water, you need to know all the ways to stop flooding in your house. 

One of the first things you have to do is shut off the power to your house. Next, place sandbags or other barriers where water is coming in. Next, if you have one, make sure your sump pump is operating. Then you’ll want to turn off water and move your most valuable items to a higher floor. 

Finally, document all damages and list affected items for insurance and recovery purposes. Below we discuss each of these steps in more detail. 

Shut Off Electricity

Electricity and water do not mix. Even if you don’t think the amount of water is significant, it is better to be safe by shutting off all power to your home. The electrical system may have been damaged by water and you don’t want to have a short circuit or a circuit break. 

Place Sandbags Where Water Is Coming Through

Sandbags can be used to stop water from coming into your home or business. Though not completely secure, using these types of tools can help prevent the worst of damage from happening during a flood or weather emergency.

Turn On Sump Pump

A flood can damage a sump pump or cause it to stop working as it should. If your sump pump is not operating automatically, it may be clogged or unpowered. 

Turn Off Water To House

Locate your home’s main water valve and shut off the water. You may be able to reduce the extent of water damage with this easy and necessary step. 

Move Valuable Items To A Higher Floor

If your basement or main floor is flooding, and you are able to move items to a higher floor without any risk to your safety, do so at this time. 

Document All Damages

In a stressful situation you may not fully realize all the items that were affected by a flood. If you inventory and document the condition of items, this will help you track their restoration or disposal but is also necessary for insurance documentation. 

What To Do After A Flood

Once the flooding has stopped, there are steps you can take to lessen the symptoms of mold exposure, sewer gas exposure, and further water damage to your household items. 

If you are doing it yourself, use personal protective equipment and remove water damaged items that are too far gone to fix. If you have a humidifier and fans, use these and open your windows to begin drying out. 

Final steps include recording places where mold and mildew are setting in and calling your insurance company to see if the damage will be covered. If you are able, exit the house to avoid symptoms of mold exposure and sewer gas exposure.

Dangers Of Water Damage

Water damage can go far beyond water marks on drywall and wet carpet. Following a flood, water can become trapped underneath flooring and behind walls. 

If floodwater is not completely removed it can affect the structural integrity of your home and your health. Below we discuss the far reaching fallout from flood water in more detail. 

Mold

All mold needs is a dark, damp environment to take hold and grow quickly. 

In less than 48 hours, what may have begun as a small trickle of water in your basement can transform into patches of mold and mildew throughout your basement. 

Mold exposure can have serious health effects when people are already immunocompromised by a pre-existing illness. The health effects of mold can be especially severe in older adults and younger children.  

Electrical

Even a small amount of water may wreck havoc on the electrical systems in your home. Water can get in through low lying outlets and even fixtures on the ceiling depending on where the water came in. 

Reduce your chances of electrocution by shutting off all power to your home following a flooding incident. 

Structural

Rain and floodwater can be especially corrosive to porous surfaces. If wood, carpet, and drywall are exposed to moisture, it can work to rot away these surfaces. It may be necessary to have structural repairs done if flooring, joists, or load bearing walls were affected. 

Sewage Exposure

Sewage exposure isn’t just gross for those who inhale or touch it. Sewage is full of noxious chemicals and can make you very ill. Gastroenteritis is just one type of illness that comes from sewage exposure. 

Homeowners Insurance Cover Flood?  

In many cases, homeowner’s insurance will cover flood damage if it was sudden and accidental. Think water heater ruptures, pipes burst, or a severe storm damages your roof. 

But homeowner’s insurance may not cover the cost to repair if the cause was you failing to maintain your home. If you were not fixing leaks, or clearing your roof and gutters, it will be harder for you to receive a check.

You also will not typically be covered by a traditional homeowners policy if water backs up into your home via an outside sewer or drain. You may, however, be able to purchase additional sewer or water backup coverage that may help cover damage from that type of event. 

If the flooding is from rainwater, you’ll need additional flood insurance, in addition to your homeowner’s insurance, to get monetary reimbursement for repairs. 

How Much Does Flood Damage Cost To Repair? 

On average, homeowners will have to pay a few thousand dollars to repair flood damage. The exact amount is dependent on what kind of insurance they have, if the cause can be traced to a nearby homeowner, and the extent of the damage. 

The longer the time is between the flooding and water damage restoration, the cost to fix usually increases. There are labor and equipment costs and you may have associated costs if you must vacate the home during the restoration process. 

Flood Damage Restoration

Flood damage restoration includes containment, assessment, inventorying, water extraction, and even removal and replacement of damaged structures and items. Flood damage restoration companies like HRS have the experience and equipment to complete all of these steps and work alongside your insurance company. 

Why Choose HRS Restoration Services

HRS is a top ranked company for water damage restoration in Denver. Our customers love our attention to detail which is especially important when it comes to mold, water and sewer gas that you can’t always see. 

Thankfully, we have detection equipment to pinpoint these corrosive and harmful culprits and eliminate them from your home. 

Our HRS team is licensed, bonded, experienced and trained and ready to respond – 24/7!

Our Process

Here at HRS, we follow a tried and true water damage restoration process. The first step involves water removal. The next step includes damage evaluation and mitigation, and the final step is restoring your home or office to the way it was before the water intrusion. Below we discuss each step in greater detail. 

Water Removal

HRS uses truck mounted water extraction technology to remove the floodwater as quickly and efficiently as possible. We also use commercial grade dryers and humidifiers during this time. 

Damage Evaluation & Mitigation

Before we can know what to fix, we do a thorough assessment of what is damaged, note its condition, and either dispose or remove it for content restoration purposes offsite. We also secure the belongings that remain in your home to prevent theft or further water damage. This step also involves cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting and mold removal. 

Restoration

Restoration after a flood might involve demolition, construction and repair work. The end goal of restoration is to restore your home to its pristine condition prior to the presence of floodwaters. 

Contact HRS Restoration Services Today!

Call HRS Restoration Services to help with home flooding. Our trained, experienced and licensed team will respond rapidly, answer your questions, and get to work getting you home back to the way it was. Call today!