How to Help Prevent Home Flooding in Houston

If homeowners knew how and when their home will flood, home floods would be the way of the dodo bird—extinct. But unfortunately Houston residents experience home floods every year for a number of reasons. From hard rain to plumbing malfunctions, a home flood is a devastating disaster that can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage. Local water damage companies care a great deal about the community and therefore educate customers on what they can do to prevent any future home floods from happening again. By knowing how home floods can occur, what threats they pose and what can be done to prevent them, homeowners can take actions to better protect their property and family members.

How Do Home Floods Occur?

Most homes flood by means of two common causes: bad weather and a plumbing or appliance malfunction. Though Houston isn’t known as an area for flooding, the region does get hard rain from time to time. If a home is situated on a hillside and the rain is relentless, the risk of water run off pooling at the home and soaking into the foundation is greater. Slopes can even send mudslides towards the home. Also, if there are gaps under your roof shingles, rain may pool and drip into the home causing damage to the wood. Homeowners can take a number of precautions to help prevent these scenarios from happening. First, dig a trench at the base of the hill and line it with a heavy-duty plastic sheet. You can fasten the sheet down with grommets or you can weight them down with rocks. Layering the hill’s base with rocks and sandbags can also help to ward off rain and mud from washing into your home. Finally, be sure to have your roof inspected for the potential to leak. It is better to pay to have your rook repaired than pay to have it fixed only after running up a big restoration bill with your insurance.

Outdated plumbing and old appliances can also cause water damage. When hoses in your washing machine or dishwasher crack, water can leak back behind the appliance for some time. If the plumbing in your home is old there is a chance it might have been ill fitted with the wrong parts and a slow leak is taking place somewhere that could eventually cause a pipe burst. Also, hard water can cause mineral deposits to buildup in your pipes creating pressure that will eventually lead to a pipe burst.

What Threats Come With Water Damage?

Household water damage poses many threats. Aside from the obvious one of damage to your home’s integrity such as wood rot or damage to your drywall, there are other threats lurking. If dirty water from the street washes into your home it will be filled with bacteria and all kind of nasty stuff. But no matter how dirty or clean the water is, household water damage can cause mold.

According to ‘Herald Homes’, household mold should be prevented at all cost. The news source states that, “prevention is paramount when it comes to this household hazard. Mold spores in high quantities are very dangerous to your respiratory health. Damp, humid air in your home is mold’s best friend. This can be seen as condensation on the windows […] or water ingress in the basement areas of a home”. Mold has even caused family members to become so ill that deaths are reported every year across the country.

How Can I Prevent Water Damage in my Home?

If you suspect a pipe might be leaking in your walls or in your basement, call an experienced water damage team to perform a free inspection, including a mold inspection. In the meantime, have your plumbing and appliances inspected, and have a roofer check your roof for potential leaks. Make sure your home is dry and properly insulated, and if heavy rains are predicted and you live near a slope, sandbag your home the day before the rain is expected. Houston may not be known for flooding, but these disasters can strike anywhere. Take these points of advice to heart, and keep your family safe.