The number one problem in US when it comes to natural disasters and damage to property is flooding.
A standard homeowners insurance policy won’t give you cover for flooding so you need to take out a separate stand-alone policy to protect you and your property against this problem. In addition to making sure that you have adequate insurance cover, there are five simple ways that you can help to reduce the risk of flooding in your home.
Adequate insurance
If you think that you may not need to take out separate cover to insure against losses and damage caused by flooding, it would be worth remembering that about 20% of claims made typically come from homeowners who live in areas where the risk of flooding is perceived to be low.
It is worth having a conversation with experienced brokers who can give you information and advice to help you evaluate what you need in terms of adequate insurance cover.
Always clear away debris
A common problem that leads to the increased risk of flooding in your property is when the catch basins located in your street and on or around your property are filled with debris.It is good policy to check the catch basins directly on and around your property in the fall because they can very quickly accumulate dry leaves on top of the grates, meaning that flood water does not drain away efficiently if they are blocked by debris, so clear them out whenever you see a collection of leaves building up and if the Public Works Department have not been around recently to clean the drains.
Address cracks in your foundation walls and floor
It is worth reinforcing the fact that your standard home insurance policy will not generally cover the risk of flooding from surface or ground water that enters your property via the basement.
This is why it is vitally important that you conduct a visual inspection of your foundation and seal any cracks that you find on the walls or the floor, so that groundwater does not get an easy way into your property.
Most small cracks can be fixed by the homeowner using a suitable product but if you do notice any larger or more persistent cracks it may be advisable to get a contractor to take a look and carry out some repairs.
Be wary of overland flow routes
If you suffer flooding that is caused by overland flow paths, this is again an aspect of water damage that is not covered by your standard insurance policy.The areas that you need to check around your property include holes that were drilled for delivering electrical and gas services to the house and also check for any gaps that you notice under your door or around window frames where water could get an easy route in.
Seal up these flow routes so that you improve your level of protection from these potential weak points that could allow water in but when sealed, will hopefully divert that same water away.
Regularly inspect your eavestroughs and downspouts
The downspouts and eavestroughs around your property do an important job in draining water away safely but sometimes their task is hampered by debris, and this can lead to flooding, Debris such as branches, leaves and even dirt can accumulate throughout the seasons and you therefore you need to inspect eavestroughs and downspouts regularly to make sure that they are clear and to clean away any debris so that you reduce the risk of flooding.
Directing water away from the property
While you are checking on the condition of your downspouts you should also make sure that they are discharging water as far away from the property as possible.It is very important to ensure that excess water is directed as far away as possible from the foundations and ideally into a permeable area where the water can be absorbed quickly and safely.
There is no question that some areas are more prone to flooding than others but wherever you live, it makes sense to take every precaution possible by checking and maintaining your property and having the right insurance cover in place.
