Stop Flooding by Protecting Your Property, Inside and Out | SERVPRO of East Cobb

10/10/2022 (Permalink)

Experienced water damage in your home? Call SERVPRO of East Cobb to get the restoration process started right away.

Everyone needs to protect their property from flooding regardless of where you live. As little as an inch of water can do a good deal of damage and leave you with a large repair bill.

If your home is in an area that is not considered high risk for rising waters, you may not get a lot of help from private insurance or federal funding if you do experience flooding. This means the more you can do to mitigate your risks, the better it will be for your home and your wallet.

Understanding both our regional risks and your personal risks is the first step to protection. Our part of Georgia does not have a huge risk of flooding, but we do frequently see strong thunderstorms and heavy rains in the warmer months.

If you live near the Chattahoochee, your home may be at risk when its banks become overwhelmed.

When you know what kind of challenges you are facing, you can start putting preventive steps into place and stop flooding from the inside out.

Protecting Your Home From the Outside

Flooding doesn’t always come with early predictions, and sometimes a pop up storm that dumps huge amounts of rain will leave your yard soaked and your gutters struggling. When you prepare your home from the outside, you can save yourself from damage.

Clean your gutters regularly to keep them clear of debris and allow water to exit them correctly. Consider adding extended downspouts as an inexpensive and effective way to keep rain out of your house.

Use your landscaping strategically to stop water from ponding and to keep it out of your home. Gardens are highly effective at absorbing water by pulling it down through the soil into the roots. Organic materials such as mulch can also serve as protection when layered in a sloping manner adjacent to your home.

You could also invest in some upgrades that will add additional security in the event of a flood, including moving your electrical outlets up and anchoring a fuel tank if you use one. These can be pricey, but even an inexpensive rain barrel that catches water from your gutters can be a great way to stop flooding.

Adding one of these also comes with the bonus of cutting out the need for turning the hose on when it comes time to water all your plants!

Flood Protection From the Inside

One of the best ways to keep your home safe from water coming in from the outside is to have a well-shored up foundation and thoroughly sealed basement.

A sump pump can also make a huge difference in your basement or bottom floor of your home as it will pump water away before it has the opportunity to do any damage. If you are in an area that experiences a good deal of storm and flooding activity, consider a battery-operated pump that will work even if the power doesn’t.

When flooding doesn’t start outside, protecting your home comes down to how well-maintained it is.

Plumbing failures are one of the top causes of water damage in a home. If you have a dripping faucet, fix it.

Replace pipes that are aged, and add checking your toilets, sinks and showers for issues to your regular cleaning list so you can stop a problem before it starts.

A leak sensor can also be a great way to minimize damages. This device will alert you when water is somewhere it shouldn’t be, and oftentimes one can be included in your home security package.

Any kind of water that takes over your home will immediately cause damage to paper goods and photographs. Keep these items and anything else that is irreplaceable stored somewhere up high or in a water tight container.

Make sure your emergency plans and contacts are also stored somewhere safe, and put SERVPRO on the top of your list. We are available 24⁄7 to get your recovery started faster.

Experienced water damage in your home? Call SERVPRO today to get your restoration completed faster.