Chances are if you have experienced a flood in your home recently you understand the frustration, damage, and expense involved in returning your home to its pre-flood state. This is one experience you will never want to relive, and you don’t have to! After assessing the damage and replacing or repairing the equipment, there are several waterproofing measures you can take to ensure the protection of your basement and the valuables within it.

Why Replace The HVAC Systems?

Most homes house the HVAC equipment in the lower level or basement. Depending on the degree of flood damage, the repair or replacement of these products can be the most costly expense in the event of a flood. If your unit is flood damaged it is important that you allow a professional, certified HVAC technician to assess the safety and condition of the system. If the unit is given a clean bill of health, it is still important that it be thoroughly cleaned and air filters replaced to prevent mold or fungus growth. However, it is most likely that the unit will be deemed unfit for use. If this is the assessment then the unit or units must be replaced. This degree of damage can be caused by as much as a few feet or as little as a few inches of water. Many homeowners find it hard to believe that a few inches of water could cause so much damage. However, it is better to play it safe and replace than try and operate the unit. GAMA, the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association, warns that the use of equipment with damaged gas or oil control devices can cause fire, flashbacks, or even explosions. In the case of electrical equipment, GAMA warns consumers of the possibility of severe electrical shock. Even if the unit works initially, it doesn’t mean that the unit is safe or that it will last. Water causes rapid deterioration of the internal components of these machines which can lead to system failure. That is why they are often condemned rather than repaired. In this case, the benefits of replacement definitely outweigh the potential costs to your family’s well-being and to your wallet.

Set Up a Defense

After the flood waters have receded, it is important to do all that you can to prevent the same level of damage from ever happening again. The best line of defense for a basement is the installation of a sump pump. A sump pump is a pump located in a basement or crawl space that removes water through a drainage system under the home. Its main goal is to remove as much water as possible from under the home and redirect it away from the foundation before it reaches the level of the basement floor causing a flood. This system should work automatically unless it encounters a problem. These problems can include pump failure, inability to remove water quickly enough, or a power outage. The first step would be to test your pump. This is done by removing the cover of sump tank and pouring water into the tank. If the system is working properly, a float, the component of the system that activates and deactivates the system, will rise to the top of the water. The water will then quickly drain from the tank and the float will then shut down the pump. If the sump pump appears to be working properly and you are still experiencing flooding, the sump pump should be checked by a professional. It is possible that your sump pump was not installed correctly, that the sump pump has failed, or that the sump pump is not properly sized for your home. Only a trained professional should install a sump pump system. If you try to do it yourself, you are putting your home and everything in it at risk in the event of a flood. In the event of a power outage, the sump pump may fail. In this case you may consider either purchasing a generator for the sump pump or a backup sump pump. No matter what steps you take, the sump pump is a crucial component the protection of your basement or crawl space.

What Else Can You Do?

Once the sump pump is in working order, there are a few other steps to take in order to prevent flooding in the future. In the event of a severe storm, it is important to keep as much water away from the foundation of your home as possible. You should check the rain gutters for leaves and any other debris that could prevent water from draining properly. Also, you may want to consider adding extensions to the downspouts that drain onto the ground. The extension will direct the water even further away from the home minimizing the chances for ground saturation near your foundation. Another check to make is of the window wells. If your existing wells do not drain well, it is important to install waterproof covers. Finally, you should patch up or caulk any cracks in the cement around your home. This may involve patching cracks in the driveway or caulking cracks in the walls of the basement. If cracks are a major issue in your home, you may want to consider bringing in a professional waterproofing company. These types of professionals may be able to repair cracks in the foundation that may be the real cause of your flooding problems. Finally, a dehumidifier will help keep the air in the basement dry. Wet or damp air in the basement provides the perfect breeding ground for mold and fungus. The dryer the air is the less chance there is of you having a mold problem.

If you were one of the unfortunate flood victims due to the latest extreme weather we have had, then you should be doing everything possible to prevent yourself from being a victim in the future. Whether it is replacing your units, repairing or installing a sump pump, or waterproofing your foundation, you have several options when it comes to ensuring the safety of your family and your home when unexpected weather hits.

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