Protecting Your Wilmington Home from Flood Damage

9/9/2021 (Permalink)

Inspecting your roof regularly can protect your home from flood damage.

Steps to preventing flood damage

Severe storms, heavy rains, and flooding in Wilmington can cause costly water damage to your home and the loss of your valuable possessions. There are steps you can take to protect your home from flood damage. It is helpful to know some things you can do to take extra care of your home, especially if you live in a flood prone area.

The first step to protect your Wilmington home from torrential rains and flood damage is to inspect your roof. A roof which is leaky can cause much more damage to your home than water stains on the ceiling. Roof leaks keep insulation in the attic wet, leading to mold and rot.

As flood damage remediation specialists, our SERVPRO technicians can help you clean and repair damages from flooding, whether it is a leaky roof or another problem.

You should also have an inventory of your personal belongings, backed up with video, photos, or both. Something such as this kept in a watertight container, or secure location is invaluable during the aftermath of storm and flood damage. Scanning documents is also a good way to keep copies of all necessary records. Doing so helps you get the right insurance claim should you need it.

Keep your downspouts and gutters clean and repair any leaks in your gutters right away. Regularly inspect them to ensure they are draining properly.

You also want to make sure the ground on your property slopes away from your home to help keep your basement dry. Having a sump pump installed can also remove ground water that seeps inside.

Rising water can cause sewage to back up into your home through the drain pipe in an area which is flood prone. It damages your home and can be a health hazard. To prevent this, a backflow valve can be installed.

HVAC equipment should also be installed above a level which the water could reach in a flood prone area. If it cannot be elevated, think about putting it on a masonry or concrete block wall.

When a flood disaster happens in your area, and your home is affected, our SERVPRO staff is ready to take care of you. Our industrial tools such as truck-mounted pumps, fans and dehumidifiers can get your home dried back out. We can assess all the damages when we first arrive and determine what is salvageable.

SERVPRO of New Hanover works fast once you alert us there is a flood emergency at your home. Residents of Wrightsville Beach, Wilmington, and Castle Hayne just need to reach out to us at (910) 762-8180.

For more information about the city of Wilmington, visit https://www.wilmingtonnc.gov/.