How to defend your home from flooding

When a flood strikes, you need to act quickly, which means having a trusted drainage expert on standby who can deal with urgent situations.

However, it’s not always about what action you take at the time of a flood. By putting preventative measures in place and making adjustments to your home, you can also limit the damage caused in the event of the flood, saving money and reducing stress.

So with this in mind, let’s explore our need-to-know tips on how to protect your home from flooding – and what action to take in the thick of an emergency.

How to defend your home from flooding

There are some adjustments and changes you can make to your property to resist and lessen the effects of flooding.

Some ideas for protecting your home from flooding include:

• Sign up to flood alerts and warnings on your phone
• Download a personal flood plan template from the government website. This will allow you to draw up a tailored plan to help you prepare for forecast floods
• Put together a flood kit that includes torches, water, snacks, batteries, essentials for taking care of babies or animals, insurance details, first aid kits, and anything else you feel will be useful
• Explore the possibility of installing non-return valves in your drainage system to prevent back-flow during a flood event
• Replace carpets with tiles
• Invest in sandbags, flood boards or seals for air bricks
• Swap driveway and outdoor surfacing to more permeable options to prevent runoff
• Install free-standing kitchen units that can be quickly moved, or place certain units on raised plinths
• Ensure that important documents or priceless heirlooms are kept on high shelves
• If flooding is a frequent event, you may want to consider raising electrical sockets higher up the wall
• You may wish to move your boiler unit upstairs
• Replace wooden door and window frames with easy-clean uPVC

Ultimately, it’s up to you how many flood precautions you put in place, and what types, as this will largely depend on how at risk your home is.

What to do if your building floods

In the event of a flood, you will need to do the following:

• Follow any instructions given by the authorities or emergency services
• Do not touch anything electrical
• Wash your hands if you come into contact with flood water, as it can sometimes be contaminated
• Keep hold of the number of your insurance company
• Find the number of a trusted flood response specialist. MPH Drain Services carries out 24/7 flood response and flood water extraction services to ensure any water is rapidly dealt with
• If the emergency services have been involved, check with them that it’s safe before returning home

We hope you’ve found this article useful and that you’re now a little more clued up on how to protect your home during a flood event.

Searching for 24/7 flood response and water extraction services? Here at MPH Drain Services, we provide a rapid service for households and businesses across Yorkshire. This includes emergency drainage and flood support, so you can count on our experts when you need us most. Simply get in touch to find out more.

Call us 24/7 - Freephone 01977 802 283