unless you live on a mountain top where the land slopes dramatically away from the foundation of your home, your home is at risk of flooding. Flooding is the most common natural disaster in the United States, causinG approximately 2.7 billion dollars in losses annually. In New Mexico, with our summer monsoon season, we receive half of our annual rainfall during a few short months, putting our homes at even higher risk of flooding. Yet, here at American Restoration we have some good news for you – there are preventive measures you can take to ensure that you will not suffer the damage of flooding.
Let’s begin by taking a look at the roof. If you discover a leak in your roof, do yourself a favor and fix it immediately. Leaky roofs and foundation cracks allow water to get into your home, and not just that, they eventually weaken the structure of your home and provide a habitat for mold. If possible, you may even want to consider extra protection for your roof by installing a rubber roof underlayment, which creates a more effective waterproof layer between the interior of your home and the outside. Take the time to close foundation cracks on any part of the exterior of your home as well, and make sure they’re filled completely.
From the vantage of your roof, you may also want to take a moment to examine your gutters. During the fall your gutters are likely to become overburdened with fallen leaves, and in the winter time they may become blocked with ice. This kind of blockage can cause rainwater and melted snow to fall directly against the foundation of your house, which provides more opportunities for water to seep into your house. If possible, extend your rain gutters away from your home, so water can easily move away from your foundation.
Speaking of directing water away from your foundation, you may want to investigate the grade of the land immediately surrounding your home. Improper grading can allow excessive amounts of groundwater to collect in the soil around your home – a particular threat to basements.
Other easy measures to keep your home dry include replacing the water hose to your washing machine every five years and making sure it is reinforced with rubber as well as preventing frozen pipes in the winter time by turning off the water if you are taking an extended trip, or letting faucets run at a slow drip when temperatures get quite low. This reduces the pressure within your pipes and keeps them from bursting, a very common cause of flooding.
If you take these easy steps you can protect yourself, your home, and your pocketbook from the hazards and costs associated with flooding. Most of the time, if water reaches even an inch anywhere within your home, there is already significant damage. In the event of a flood, American Restoration is at your service. If you would like to talk about flood prevention or restoration in the aftermath of a flood, get in touch with us at (505) 206-5277.
