Flooding in the home can be a huge and devastating problem – it can create a lot of mess, and damage to the property, as well as the fact that floodwater can also be unhygienic and transmit diseases. It is important to be aware of flooding and also to know how to best protect your home form a flood. Here are three common reasons for a flood in the house and some of the things that you can do to help to prevent this from happening in your home…
A cause of flooding that most people are aware of is bad weather. This is usually something that happens in the winter, but not necessarily all the time – in 2007, Gloucestershire suffered one of the worst flood disasters in the UK as a combination of a period of heavy rainfall as well as a lot of previous rainfall that summer led to the county becoming badly flooded and many people having to evacuate their homes and workplaces. It is important to keep up to date with flood risks via the Environment agency, and be prepared – sandbags, as well as special floor sealant will help to stop flood water getting into your home.
A big cause of flooding in the home is problems with drains and pipes. Blockages in pipes can be caused by many things and can lead to big problems with flooding. Things like fats and oils, hair, sanitary towels and dental floss can all contribute to blockages in pipes, so it is important that you are aware of the things that are safe to go down a drain. If in doubt don’t risk, it. If you have noticed that your pipes or drains may have a problem – for example, water isn’t draining away very quickly or there is a bad smell coming from the drain it is best to get a professional in to sort it out for you as soon as possible such as Wilkinson Environmental drain lining company.
Problems with pipes are another big cause of household flooding. Pipes that have become frozen in the winter can then burst as the ice inside expands, and pipes can be damaged or burst in many other ways – from rats chewing through them to parts that have had too much wear and tear and just need to be replaced. It is important to keep an eye out for pipes that may be damaged – look at them and check them where you can. Also look out for patches of water that appears as this can be a sign of a pipe that is leaking – as soon as you suspect that anything may be wrong with a pipe you should have a plumber come and check it for you. You should also insulate pipes that are susceptible to freezing in the cold weather as winter approaches.