How to Protect Your Home from Winter Floods 

Winter is now upon us, and although that means we get to enjoy the holidays and the natural beauty of the season (Utah does have the best snow on Earth, after all), it also needs to be noted that the weather becomes more dangerous. All of the elements of winter can be quite destructive, especially for the unsuspecting homeowner. As a disaster recovery company, we see lots of this. Aside from Christmas tree fires, though, the number one threat to homes in the winter is from flooding, which can leaves thousands of dollars of property destroyed. Here are some tips to protect your home from winter flooding…

Get flood insurance

First of all, you can’t always protect your home from a devastating flood. However, you can take precautions to make sure that you aren’t stuck footing the bill when water damage wrecks havoc on your home. Of course, this means making sure that your homeowner’s insurance covers flooding. If you are doubtful of this, give your insurance provider a call before winter rolls around, and make sure that you and your family’s home covered and protected!

Seal windows and doors

The basic premise of preventing a flood is to keep the harsh elements of the winter season on the outside of your home, rather than on the inside. The easiest fixtures for water to bypass are doors and windows, since they are meant to be accessible, on a regular basis. For this reason, it is important to make sure that your doors and windows are properly sealed before the snowy season really sets in. You can do this by purchasing your own sealing materials, or by having a professional come in and do it (this method is probably preferable, if you aren’t sure what you’re doing).

Be mindful of the time

The initial snow isn’t likely going to cause your home to flood (unless you haven’t drained your sprinkler system), as it probably won’t spread and find its way past your home’s defenses. However, the real danger comes when all of that snow melts. At this time, all of that water is going to need somewhere to go, and cracks in your homes foundation, or improperly sealed basement doors and windows, can easily cause it to cause tremendous damage on the inside of your home.