Living in Victoria, one of the big concerns for home owners should be flooding. Flood insurance is one thing, but there are simple and effective ways of mitigating potential damages, saving you time and money before flooding takes place. Tips and tricks from the specialists:
- Landscape. Add or maintain slopes away from your house
- Do regular maintenance, such as clearing debris that could clog storm drains
- Get your gutters cleaned regularly
- Check the quality of your downspouts, make sure water can efficiently leave your property
- Utilities, boilers, central air-conditioning units, and other HVAC equipment normally located at the lowest level of a home are particularly vulnerable to flood damage. Consider bringing them to higher ground, either by building platforms, if your flood risk is minimal, or by moving them to another floor. Your insurance agent and a contractor can advise on logistics and cost.
- Apply coatings and sealants. A form of "dry flood-proofing," coatings and sealants that you apply to your foundation, walls, windows and doorways help prevent flood water from leaking into your house through cracks.
- Raise your electrical outlets and switches. All outlets, switches, sockets and circuit breakers should be at least one foot above flood level to avoid significant electrical damage in the case of a flood.
- Leave space between mulch and siding. Wet mulch can rot your house's siding, which in turn can lead to leaks. Keep space between your mulch and siding so that the base of your house can completely dry after rainstorms.
