8 Ways to Help Prevent Flooding in Your Richmond Hill Home

If you have ever experienced a flood, you know it can be quite expensive to repair the damages. According to reports from the Insurance Bureau of Canada, flooding is now Canadians’ most expensive climate issue.

As a result, it is important to be proactive in making decisions that will prevent flooding in your home because flood protection is far less expensive than flood damage repair.

Drain King Plumbers has put together this guide to help prevent flooding in your Richmond Hill home because we want the best for you. If you are looking for flood protection or plumbing services in Richmond Hill, this guide is the first step to making proactive decisions.

What are the common causes of flooding in Richmond Hill?

It is common knowledge that Richmond Hill is prone to flooding due to its location and the city’s elevation of one metre above sea level.

Richmond Hill is vulnerable to flooding caused by storm surges, rising sea levels, high tides, and the Fraser River overflow, often caused by heavy rainfall and melted snow.

Other common causes of flooding include overflowing sewers caused by excessive rainfall, resulting in sewage backup, surface water overflow due to bad drainage systems, and river water rising and overflowing beyond the river’s normal channel.

How can plumbers protect your home from flood disasters?

Plumbers can prevent your home from being flooded by installing flood-prevention devices. These flood-prevention devices include backwater valves, cameras, and sump pumps.

The flood-protection process involves installing a backwater valve in your sewer line and a sump pump to redirect stormwater away from your property.

Flood protection services cost an average of $150 to $5000, depending on your home. When you hire a skilled plumber to ensure that your property is adequately protected against flood disasters, you reduce the risk of property damage and loss while saving money.

What are 8 ways to prevent flooding in your Richmond Hill home?

Flooding can cause extensive water damage both inside and outside of your property. However, if you are aware of preventive measures, you can protect your home and properties. Below are eight methods that can help you prevent flooding in your home:

Keep gutters clean, and mind the downspouts

If your gutters are unkempt, they can become a storage space for debris, eventually blocking water meant to be drained. For this reason, you need to clean your gutters regularly to prevent a case of flooding.

You can prevent debris buildup by removing leaves from gutters and installing leaf guards. Also, install downspout extensions that can direct water up to 10 feet away from your house for added protection from pooled water.

2. Landscape your lawn properly

An effective method of preventing basement flooding from the outside is grading your lawn so it slopes away from your house and towards the streets or gutters nearby. This measure is significant because if your lawn slopes towards the walls of your house, water will eventually enter your basement.

Some landscaping solutions for flood prevention include installing a rain garden or a green roof, placing heavy mulch on your lawn, and constructing a swale to divert rainwater.

Another measure is to examine the surrounding soil grade and add soil as required to achieve at least a quarter-inch per foot slope so that water moves away from your house instead of into it.

3. Install window well covers

By installing window well covers, you prevent water from entering your house from below-grade or low windows.

When installing window well covers, ensure that they are securely fastened to your windows so they can trap rain and groundwater effectively.

Even if your windows are relatively new, the extra protection that window well covers provide is worthwhile. Installing them is affordable and simple, and if you choose clear acrylic covers, your basement will still receive plenty of light.

4. Install a sump pump and backup sump

If you own a house in a flood-prone area, you should consider installing a sump pump and its backup system, especially if the basement or crawl space collects a lot of moisture. A sump pump is a machine that collects and redirects water from your basement, crawl spaces, or the surrounding foundation of your house.

Installing a sump efficiently protects your home from flooding when you are away on vacation. Additionally, when the primary sump pump fails, the backup sump pump takes over. Consider purchasing a battery-powered backup in case the power goes out.

5. Mind the trees that surround your home

Trees that have aggressive root systems can destroy your foundation and expose your home to flood disasters. It is advisable to plant troublesome trees such as maples, white fir trees, or aspens 10 to 20 feet away from your house.

If you already have a tree that is too close, consider removing it to avoid flood issues in the future.

6. Install backwater valves

Installing a backwater valve is a great way to keep your sewer line closed during periods of heavy rain.

This installation is done to keep water out of your home. It is important to note that only licensed plumbers can install backwater valves with a building permit.

7. Fix any cracks in your walls

Water can enter through foundation cracks, thus weakening the structure of your home and causing floods. Although small cracks are normal in foundations, repairing these cracks can help prevent major problems in the future.

If you find a small crack, fill it with concrete patching paste, a masonry sealer, or an epoxy.

If you’re concerned about larger issues, hire a professional to assess the damage and recommend a solution.

8. Get flood insurance

Flood insurance protects the risk of any damage to properties caused by flood disasters.

You can pay small amounts towards insurance in order to protect your properties against flood disasters. Insurance helps greatly during emergencies.

Does your home need flood protection?

People with homes in flood-prone areas such as Richmond Hill should protect their homes from flood disasters.

Homeowners can choose various options to protect their properties from flood, including backwater valves, sump pumps, and overflow protection.

We offer flood protection and plumbing services at Drain King Plumbers, and our team of professional plumbers is available to work with you to ensure that your house is adequately protected from flood disasters.

For more information on how to protect your home from flooding, call Drain King Plumbers at 833-983-5663 or contact us here.