4 Ways To Protect Your Garage From Springtime Flooding

3/18/2019 (Permalink)

Flood Fontata CA

Springtime tends to bring rainy weather. Combine that with warm temperatures that melt snowdrifts (in your area, and on nearby mountains), and you’ve got a recipe for plenty of excess water. Rivers are more likely to spill their banks in the spring, and higher-than-normal groundwater levels can cause leaks into your garage/basement that you aren’t even able to detect beforehand.

That’s why spring is the perfect time to take steps towards protecting your garage from flooding. Here are a few of our top tips:

1) Replace Your Weather-Stripping

Weather-stripping is the process of sealing openings (like doors and windows) against the elements. In your garage, you’ll probably see it in the form of rubber strips at the bottom of your doors. When intact, they form a seal strong enough to keep moderate water flow from entering your garage. But as weather-stripping will wear down over time, it’s important to check it periodically for cracks or other signs of damage, and to replace it if needed. Don’t worry – it’s an easy and inexpensive task.

2) Ensure Your Home Has Adequate Drainage

Public streets (and even many private ones) have gutters and drains that are your home’s first defense against heavy waters. But they aren’t infallible, and during times of particularly heavy flooding they may overflow and allow water to back up onto your property – particularly risky if the nearby land slopes downwards toward your home. If you don’t have something similar already, consider having a French drain installed to route water safely away from your garage.

3) Install Flood Vents

If drainage is lacking around your home, flood vents are one easy and efficient way to alleviate the problem. They allow any water that has entered your garage to drain in a safe and controlled fashion. While their effectiveness will be limited against a massive flash flood, homeowners who frequently contend with a relatively small amount of water in the garage will find flood vents a smart investment.

4) Lay Down Flood Barriers

Low-level floods can be kept at bay by physical barriers. Sandbags are common and inexpensive option, though their weight can pose a challenge without the proper equipment. Inflatable flood barriers (or “quick dams”), which rapidly expand when they make contact with water, are also available from home supply stores. It’s important to note that you don’t generally want to completely barricade your property – this can result in water pooling between buildings and causing additional damage. Rather, set up a pyramid-shaped wall near the flood zone to divert the moving waters away from your home as much as possible.

For more water damage restoration tips and professional service, call SERVPRO of Fontana today at (909) 357-4337.