10 Ways To Prevent Home Flooding & Water Damage

prevent home flooding and water damage

Get a Quote

For a quote, fill out the info below, or call us 24/7 at (512) 698-8444

Get a Quote

Floods and stormwater can wreak havoc on your home or business. If you live in a flood zone or a flood plain, the risk of flooding is increased. Consider the following steps to prevent a flood from occurring in the first place.

Many people don’t know it, but most homeowner’s insurance policies cover water damage caused by an overflowed sink or bathtub, but not flood damage caused by storms, hurricanes, or other natural disasters. Talk to your insurance agent to understand what is covered by your policy.

If you live in a high-risk area, see if flood insurance makes sense for you.

Do you need help with water removal or flood damage in Austin, Texas? Call Total Restoration 24-hours a day at (512) 698-8444.

Consider these suggestions to prevent or minimize flood damage in your home or business.

  1. Install water sensors or flood detection systems.
    There are many options for water detection systems, sensors, and alarms to alert you to water or leaks within your home or business. More complex water or leak detection systems can be tied into your smart home or your home security system to alert you of water before it’s a disaster.
  2. Regularly test your sump pump & consider a battery backup.
    Regularly test your sump pump. Be sure it can remove water at an adequate pace during heavy rains. You may also consider installing a battery backup or UPS, so if the power goes out, your sump pump will continue to operate until the power is restored. You can also buy sump pumps with a battery backup integrated into the system.
  3. Regularly clear debris from drains and ditches.
    Avoid piling leaves, mulch, or other debris in your yard where it could flush into the sewage drains or block drainage paths. If you live in an area with lots of trees, regularly rake your yard, bag the leaves, and set them at the curb for pick up. Check nearby storm drains to make sure they are clear and use a rake to remove any visible blockage. Contact your city or county water or sewer department for more severe blockages.
  4. Regularly check and clean downspouts and gutters.
    Check and clean the gutters and downspouts at least once a year, more frequently if you have lots of trees near your home. To ensure the downspouts are clear, you can use a leaf blower or gloves to clean the gutters and a flexible water hose with a high-pressure attachment. You can also hire a lawn or landscape pro to take care of this.
  5. Improve grading and drainage around your home.
    When it rains, take note of any rain or flood water that accumulates near your home. Pay attention to areas near the foundation. The ground should slope away from the foundation of your home or business. You may need to bring in dirt and sod to improve the grading. In some cases, you may need to install drainage where water accumulates to give the water a place to go during heavy storms.
  6. Check for and seal openings and cracks in your foundation.
    As part of your yearly home maintenance, seal openings, such as doors, windows, utility, and exhaust penetrations, regularly inspect your foundation and seal foundation cracks with masonry or mortar caulk.
  7. Check & seal your basement windows.
    Improve the water resistance of the basement or low windows by making sure they are properly sealed and caulked. If you have old windows, you may also consider having new ones installed. Newer windows have a better seal which can reduce the chance of water entering your home. New windows can also help with energy efficiency.
  8. Inspect and upgrade drains.
    If the drains in your home do not have one-way (backflow prevention) valves, consider having them installed by a licensed plumber. If you have sewer backups, the one-way valves prevent the backup from entering your home.
  9. Install flood skirts and barriers.
    Consider attaching flood skirts or barriers to windows and doors and around air bricks. These will help to floodproof and keep water out of your home.
  10. Keep sandbags nearby.
    If flood levels are rising and water is approaching your home, sandbags can prevent water from coming through doorways or low windows. If you are in an area where flood risk is high, keep sandbags handy for emergencies.
Total Restoration responded very quickly to our situation. We had a broken water line to a water heater that had been running all night in our guest house. Within and hour - we live outside of the Austin area -of my call Ryan evaluated the situation and called for reinforcements. Great communication on every level, and Kylie helped me deal with the insurance company. Hope to never have to use them again, but would in heartbeat if necessary. Highly, recommend!
Catherine C.
We called Total Restoration late on a Friday evening to deal with a second-floor burst pipe. Ryan and his team responded immediately and began work to...
Dave G.
During the Feb '21 winter freeze, a cap blew off of a pipe in the middle of the night. Within an hour, I awoke to flooding throughout my entire house. I called more water mitigation companies than I can count and ended up on 12 waitlists. Once roads opened up, Total Restoration of Texas was the first company who had the means and the equipment to help. All the others were short-staffed and under-equipped to fill the enormous needs of our community. I got a 9:30 pm text from Kylie, the office manager. She apologized for the late contact and asked if I still need help. (Ummm... Yes, please!) Ryan was out the next day. He managed all of the water mitigation. From the inspection to the demo to the dry out, he was there. They all had to be working 80 hours/week, and they did it all with a smile. Then came insurance. Whew! Kylie handled most of it and let me know when I needed to step in. Boy, she sure knows the ropes when it comes to dealing with insurance! I hope I never have to go through this again, but if I do, Total Restoration of Texas will be the first people I call. They are professional, they took care of my home and belongings, and they took care of me when I needed help with my insurance company. Thank you!
Pamela T.
We had an emergent issue with water flooding and Total Restoration of Texas was a Godsend. They offered to come out earlier than I initially requested,...
Cara R.
Ryan acted fast to come out and take care of my water damage. It was tough to have a leak right before Christmas, but Ryan was empathetic and worked with me on trying to make the best of the situation
Ryan J.
Very fast service, super professional, was able to pinpoint another issue with termites on top of cleaning up the mold. Highly recommend
Huan J.
Kyle and his team were professional and efficient. Easy to work with and took care of us. Much appreciated.
John G.
Jason and team are great to work with, do super high quality work, and are very professional/trustworthy both in being in our house throughout the day and...
Brandon A.
Professional & courteous service
Julia K.
js_loader

Additional flood resources:

Total Restoration of Texas can be at most Austin-area locations in under 1-hour. We have emergency service available 24-hours a day, 7-days a week.

At Total Restoration of Texas we provide the following, from start to finish.

We restore flood-damaged homes and offices in these Austin-area communities:

  • Austin
  • Bee Cave
  • Buda
  • Cedar Park
  • Georgetown
  • Kyle
  • Lakeway
  • Leander
  • Lockhart
  • New Braunfels
  • Pflugerville
  • Rollingwood
  • Round Rock
  • San Marcos
  • Sunset Valley
  • West Lake Hills

Water damage? Let us handle the mess.

Drop us a line today or call for a quote!