Aside from wildfires, flooding is the most widespread natural disaster in the United States. It’s also rather expensive to repair the severe damage flooding causes: in fact, since 1978, the National Flood Insurance Program has paid approximately $52 billion for flood insurance claims. And the summer season often presents a greater risk to homeowners for a multitude of reasons involving increase moisture and incidences of flash flooding (rapid floods that occur in areas in less than six hours, usually from severe thunderstorms and/or heavy rainfall). With that in mind, here are just a few common basement flooding risks and how to most easily resolve them.
Sewage Backup
This is the absolute worst of the worst. After period of heavy rainfall, it’s not uncommon for a sewer to back up into your basement and flood it with disgusting sewage water. Yuck! Prevent this by investing in a backwater valve, which will automatically close if it detects any sewage backup.
Clogged Gutters
A home with clogged gutters is a recipe for disaster. It only takes one bad rainfall for the gutters to overflow and start leaking water into your home if its foundation isn’t thoroughly protected.
The best way to prevent these issues is simply to call a professional for an evaluation. The unfortunate fact is, floods aren’t covered by most homeowner’s insurance and it generally takes 30 days after a purchase for a flood insurance policy to take effect.
In addition to making sure your policy is up to date, it can give you some peace of mind to hire a professional for a foundation inspection, where you can receive advice regarding any flaws that could be a threat to your home.
In the last six years, all of the country’s 50 states have experienced flooding or flash flooding, and no home is completely insusceptible to flooding damage. If you notice any signs of flooding, contact a professional right away.
