If South Florida homeowners know anything, they know how unpredictable the weather can get here sometimes. From gale-force winds and hurricanes to rising water tables and surrounding swampland, you know how devastating intrusive water and flooding can be.
As your trusted mold remediation and water restoration partner, we wanted to share some of the best tips and techniques to help mitigate water damage caused by flooding. These insights are great steps homeowners like you can take today to make flood mitigation planning a priority.
Install Reliable Sump Pumps
One of the first recommendations is to check your home’s sump pump. And if you don’t have one, you’ll definitely want to install a reliable sump pump system. At the base level of your home, you’ll have a small pit that serves as a pool for drawing water.
Once seeping, leaking, or flooding water reaches a certain height within that pit, your sump pump will kick on and pump to redirect water away from your home’s foundation. If you have a sump pump, perform routine inspections to ensure it’s working properly and automatically responds to water levels as intended. And call in a professional to install or replace it if necessary.
Elevate Your HVAC Units
Every aspect of your home is important and worthy of protection from flood damage. But your HVAC and air conditioning unit is typically a priority when it comes to taking mitigation steps. Those systems can be ruined if exposed to standing water and present additional risks and hazards. They’re also costly to replace after a flood.
Do your best to protect those systems by elevating your units off the ground as part of your flood mitigation planning. Of course, hurricane flooding can translate to several inches or more of standing water which is going to cause unavoidable damage to your units. However, elevating those systems a few inches or more can protect you from minor flooding incidents.
Hurricane-Proof Windows
You know the value of installing hurricane-proof windows in protecting your home from strong winds and blowing debris. But these more durable materials are also great for flood damage mitigation efforts. Installing hurricane-proof glass, with its laminated glass, can keep low-level floods at bay and out of your home. And while traditional windows might break under pressure, allowing rain or outdoor elements into your home, the hurricane-proof glass will remain durable.
Apply Sealants and Coatings
It’s also recommended that you evaluate every seal or ground-level entry point where water might easily find a path. You can use retailer-available sealants, caulking, and coatings to cover those gaps and cracks. Look for common leak areas around doors and windows.
Consider having your foundation inspected regularly to ensure there aren’t any potential structural failures there. It only takes a neglected or unnoticed trickle of water to get started. Within a matter of hours, those leaks and heavy rain could result in standing water and household flooding. So, take the steps now to seal cracks and openings. Doing so now can help prevent water intrusion later.
Let Restoration Maintenance Be Your Guide
When it comes to flood mitigation planning, the most important step you can take is to have a water restoration and mold remediation partner on standby. Water damage can happen overnight, and the Restoration Maintenance team is available 24/7 to answer the call. From floods caused by failing appliances or systems to those unpredictable hurricane conditions, we can quickly remove any standing water and restore your home to its pre-flood conditions!
Call our experts at 954-807-4721 with any other questions you might have about protecting your South Florida home from water and mold. Visit your South Florida house restoration company for more homeowner tips and insights.
