Protecting Your Home From Flooding

6/30/2022 (Permalink)

A flooded home in Park Meadows, CO.

Flood Safety

As a homeowner in Park Meadows, CO, you want to keep your home safe from dangers and natural disasters. Flood safety is one of the things to consider to protect your family and your property. Ready.gov reports that flooding is the most common natural disaster in the United States. Here are some safety tips for incorporating into your plan.

1. Examine your home's water valves.
Flooding doesn't always mean rainwater building up in your living room—many homes flood when sewer systems back up. The best way to address this risk is to install an interior or exterior backflow valve. Gate valves, specifically, are an excellent choice, though they are more complex and operated by hand. Install valves on all pipes coming into your home for maximum flood safety protection.

2. Flood proof your electrical and heating systems.
Check all of your electrical outlets, switches, wiring, and breakers to ensure they are at least a foot over the level you expect floodwaters to reach. Similarly, your furnace and water heater should sit at the same level or higher to avoid storm damage.

3. Study how water flows around your home.
The slope of your property carries water around your home in a particular pattern. Ideally, the grading of the ground moves the water away from the house rather than toward it. To understand your flood safety risk, pick any rainy day and watch how the water flows. Take note of any areas where water may accumulate in the street and backflow onto your property. Contact the planning department in Park Meadows, CO, to request their help with this kind of stormwater runoff.

3. Tie down your outdoor equipment.
If you have outdoor equipment such as fuel tanks, HVAC units, or generators, ensure they are anchored securely higher than the expected flood level. Without sufficient anchoring, these pieces can break loose and damage your property. Also, a waterlogged generator can malfunction and fail when you need it most.