Surface Water Flood Prevention Tips
Did You Know?
One of the primary reasons your basement and home can flood during a rainstorm or when there is snow melting is due to poor or blocked drainage. To help you keep water from seeping into places it’s not wanted, use the following precautionary measures you can take to protect your home and its belongings from flooding due to surface water.
Use these simple prevention tips to avoid flooding in your home:
- Make sure that the ground area within three metres of your home slopes away from your home’s foundation.
- Extend downspouts at least three metres from your home.
- Direct water flow from downspouts away from your home, being careful not to discharge the water too close to adjacent property.
- Preventive landscaping can also help reduce the chance of a mudslide or flooding.
- Clean the gutters and the drainage downspouts attached to your roof at least twice a year.
- Have your roof carefully inspected at least once a year by a knowledgeable professional.
- If your house or commercial lot is at risk of flooding from a higher neighbouring property, consider building a solid wall masonry fence on the water-vulnerable boundaries of your property.
- Be vigilant for warning signs of an impending water flood problem.
Safety First
Plan ahead! If flooding occurs, be familiar with how to shut off electricity, gas and water at main switches and valves. Knowing how to do this ahead of time will help you to react quickly and minimize potential damages.