From June through November, hurricanes wreak havoc on homes throughout the country. These massive storms start in the south Atlantic and Caribbean and gain momentum as they approach Florida, the Gulf states, and up the east coast. While rain and wind are two of the defining factors of a hurricane that threaten your home, flooding is also a huge risk. Before a hurricane destroys your home, follow these tips to prevent flooding.

Build Flood Barriers

Depending on the height of your building and its clearance off the ground, you may want to think about installing flood barriers. Some of these fixtures are permanent, while others you can assemble in just a few hours. Flood skirts are one of the most popular permanent barriers. These fit around a home and deploy with the touch of a button, providing protection from floods without looking unsightly. If you don’t have permanent barriers, you can strategically place sandbags to prevent the floodwaters from rushing into your home.

Repair Your Foundation

Damage to your home’s foundation can degrade its structural integrity, which can cause your home to take on water during a flood. Water can permeate the foundation through even the tiniest cracks. Depending on the severity or number of cracks, you can either hire a professional to fix the cracks, or you can patch the cracks yourself. Patching the cracks on your own is less costly than hiring someone, but it might require a higher level of expertise. If the cracks aren’t repaired properly, water can still enter and cause lasting effects. The sooner you correct the cracks, the less severe the damage can get from flooding.

Install Gate Valves or Backflow Valves

During hurricane flooding, your sewer system can also back up. This is the worst possible scenario—not only do you have water in your home, but bacteria and fecal matter can create unsanitary conditions. Cleaning and repairs can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars.

A superb solution to the sewer problem is to install gate valves or backflow valves. These act as a water security system, which prevents backups and keeps your home safe and clean.

Clean Your Gutters

Keeping your gutters clear is one of the most effective ways of preventing flood damage in your home. Gutters direct rainwater off the roof and to the ground away from the house’s foundation, which prevents buildup on the shingles and plywood that make up the roof. When hurricanes pour excessive rain on your home, this exacerbates the problem. Make certain to clear all the debris, twigs, and leaves out of your gutter prior to hurricanes to prevent damage.

Keeping your home safe from hurricane flooding isn’t always foolproof, but the more you know and the more cautious you are, the better chance you have to protect your investment. For an added layer of protection, keep up-to-date with the latest technology and water security systems at the Enolgas USA blog. With everything you learn, you can keep flooding damage to a minimum and have peace of mind. You can’t put a price on that.

We specialize in creating high-quality actuated valves. When there’s flooding, our actuated valves will allow you take the excess water and move it to a different location.

Hypothetically speaking, if your home or business was getting flooded, one of the actuated valves could detect the increase in moisture before it gets to critical levels, and then transfer the excess water to a safe location. At the very least, you’d know ahead of time that the water levels were getting too high so you can do something about it.

Hurricanes are no joke. The potential of flooding should be taken seriously. If you’re in a hurricane-prone area or about to get hit with a powerful storm like Irma, you need to take the proper precautions for flooding. Our actuated valves will do their part, but it’s better to be extra safe.

Make sure all your electronics are off the ground. Unplug all your electronics beforehand. Put all your important documents (ex: passports, birth certificates, titles, etc) in waterproof bags. Put small electronics in waterproof bags. Have an evacuation plan. Evacuate if you’re near the shore.

These are just some of the precautions you should take. If you have any questions about how actuated valves can help during a natural disaster– more specifically, flooding– don’t hesitate to talk to one of our specialists. Call us at (855) 366 5427.

From everyone at Enolgas USA to our family, friends, and customers in hurricane-prone regions… Don’t wait too long to get ready for an impending natural disaster. Please be safe this hurricane season.