10 Ways To Prevent Home Flooding & Water Damage

prevent home flooding and water damage

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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.
G B.
February 18, 2024

Great company to work with. We've used them twice already. They were fast to respond and professional. Highly recommend.
Huan J.
December 9, 2022

Very fast service, super professional, was able to pinpoint another issue with termites on top of cleaning up the mold. Highly recommend
April H.
January 26, 2024

Very prompt and organised.
Nicole B.
October 2, 2021

We had an emergency flood situation in our brand new home and Ryan came out and cleaned it all up!! He was at the house within 30 minutes of calling the...
Amanda K.
January 25, 2024

We had a leak in our attic, and the first person we called was total restoration . Ryan was amazing. I wish I could give him more than 5 stars 🌟 . He came out within an hour of being called and dried up all the water in my home. His crew came out the very next day and took all drywall out to prevent mold. His company also helped me pack my belongings and get them out of the way so we can restore our home back to normal. I highly recommend this company as they go above and beyond to make things go as smooth as possible during this hard time.
L O.
August 28, 2020

I first worked with these guys a few months ago when I bought a newly-constructed home that had serious leaks. During a very traumatic time, Ryan and the...
Amy M.
January 22, 2024

Flooded garage. They were here same day and super helpful!
Matthew F.
January 18, 2024

These folks are heroes. When there is a disaster unfolding in your house that you can't contain, these are the types of people you want responding. From the day some flooding started upstairs until the day the insurance claim was closed some 6 months later, everyone we worked with was available and responsive at all times. As new damaged areas were discovered, Ryan found a way to get out to our house (which is not at all centrally located) with fans and plastic and everything needed to stem the damage, even when he had just packed them up because we thought the job was done. On the billing end, Kylie was a pleasure to work with, assuring me that I wouldn't be on the hook for a huge tab if my insurance company was being difficult. That's a big concern when you've never filed a major claim before and when the need to commit to work comes before the commitment from your insurance company to make you completely whole. I don't wish for another disaster, but if one strikes, we'll call TRT.
Katie T.
December 15, 2023

Professional; timely, and honest service. Really appreciated their no-hassle approach. Will definitely use again should future water mitigation issues arise.
Olivia L.
November 21, 2023

Jason and Ryan were amazing, went above and beyond helping dry out my house and navigate a home insurance claim. Extremely knowledgeable, friendly, punctual, and professional. I wouldn't go anywhere else. These guys will take care of you beginning to end. 100% recommend 👌
Bekah P.
November 7, 2023

Ryan did a fantastic job helping to remove the damaged items in my kitchen during a water mitigation project. He was professional, quick, and easy to work with. He made the whole experience so much better, especially with having to deal with a kitchen flood. Once the process was over, my insurance decided to go no-contact for a while, and Kylie helped a ton with dealing with my insurance. She pushed them on multiple occasions, and was able to get them to reply and pay-out after almost 3 months of silence! Thanks so much for a great experience, all!
Kevin D.
September 12, 2023

Ryan did a fantastic job with a second opinion we needed. On time and knowledgeable, a great asset to your company.

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!