The freak weather conditions of late have meant that many have witnessed flooding like never before. What happened in Cockermouth, Cumbria is a frightening example.
There are lots of things that you can do to protect your home or business from flooding, so that if a flood is imminent you can ensure that the damage done is kept to a minimum.
There are several things that you need to be aware of before you embark on building on your arc.
What flood defences are suitable for your property?
The kind of defences that you can employ will depend on a few factors:
* Does your property or community have flood defences in place?
* What kind of floodwater are you at risk from - sea, river, sewer, surface water etc) ?
* Will you get any warning prior to the flood?
* Can you predict the depth of the floodwater?
* What is the building that you wish to protect made from?
* What kind of ground is the building on?
It is worth understanding all of these factors in order to be properly prepared or the flood damage costs to a building could easily run into the thousands.
Once you have discovered where the threat comes from and how much of a problem it poses, you then have to consider how the water could enter your home or business.
If you home back onto a river, for example, you will know that the first place a flood will hit is the back of your property. You may have property entrance at the back of the building below the usual level of the river, in which case you should think about creating an obstruction between the back wall and the river.
There are several places that flood water can enter a property. From the small gaps around a door frame to backflow through sewage pipes; the flood water might seep up through the ground, come through airbricks or sneak through a hole in a wall made for cables.
Other ways to reduce flood damage:
1. Move electrical socket further up the wall
2. Install synthetic or waxed window frames
3. Put white goods on plinths
4. Use stainless steel, plastic or solid wood kitchen units instead of chipboard with easily absorbs the flood water and expands.
5. Take up carpets and replace with rugs and tiles
6. Move valuable or irreplaceable items to safe places high off the ground
7. Fit covers to airbricks
8. Install non-return values on pipes
9. Hold back low lever water with door guards
10. Mount TVs or Hi-Fi equipment on the walls
Prevention is the best form of attack and will safe guard your property from flood damage.
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