What Are the Common Causes of a Flooded House?

 

Are you worried about flooding?

Fifteen million homes in the United States are at risk for flooding, and that’s just those at risk due to factors outside the home. There are so many reasons that your home could flood.

Read on to learn about the most common causes of a flooded house.

1. Bad Weather

With the rise of climate change, the risk of your home flooding has become higher and higher.

Unfortunately, there’s not all that much you as an individual can do to prevent flooding due to weather events. See what your city’s plan is if flooding gets worse than the preventative measures can handle.

You can also take your own measures to help your home get through a flooding situation, should it occur. Look into basement waterproofing since your basement is likely to be the first area affected when flooding hits.

You can also get sandbags to line your property, which can help limit water coming in from street level. Flood prevention is an important part of homeownership, so make sure you’re prepared before the bad weather hits.

2. Broken or Damaged Pipes

If a pipe happens to burst or break in your home, you could end up underwater very quickly. You need to be checking your pipes regularly so that you’ll catch wear and tear or other issues before they become critical. Some of the causes of broken or damaged pipes include:

• Frozen pipes due to extreme weather
• Corrosion
• Bad water quality
• Aging pipes
• Tree roots
• Error during the construction process
• Tree roots

So, if you struggle with any of these issues, you’ll want to be vigilant to ensure they don’t result in a flood. And, your pipes don’t necessarily have to be broken to cause flooding. A loose or disconnected pipe can also cause you problems.

3. Bad Appliances

A lot of the appliances commonly used in your home use large amounts of water. So, if one of them breaks or the water supply line gets disconnected, you could end up with a flooded home. Make sure you check your appliances for signs of wear and tear very quickly.

4. Bad Drainage

Bad drainage is annoying, but it can also cause flooding if left untreated. Sometimes, you may mistake bad damage for a clog in just one drain. However, you can fix clogs easily on your own. You’ll need to call in a plumber if you have bad drainage throughout your home.

Slow draining water in your sinks and tubs is a major sign that you might have a drainage issue. A weird, unpleasant smell lingering near your drains could also point to problems with your drains. A drop in water pressure is something else to watch out for.

Start Avoiding a Flooded House

Now that you know about the causes of a flooded house, you should be able to keep your house clean and dry.

Do you need more home maintenance tips? Don’t miss out; read some of our other posts for more.