Garage floods are a fairly common occurrence in places that are prone to flooding. Heavy rainfalls, water Main burst, and river overflow are few causes of residential floods. During these floods, your home and property can suffer water damage. Your garage is especially vulnerable to water damage from flooding, and the water that leaks in can damage personal items you have stored away.
Here are a few tips to help you avoid and deal with garage floods:
Clear Out Your Gutter Traps
If your gutters are clear and your home is still getting flooded after light rainfall, it could be because there’s a crack in your foundation that is letting water past. Conduct a thorough inspection of the foundation near your garage for clear cracks that could be responsible for leaks. If you find any, seal the hole using some Vinyl paint or concrete.
Consider Installing a French Drain if You Have a Yard That Slopes to Your Garage.
If you have a yard that slopes towards your garage, water will probably pool up faster than your drain can divert the water. Getting a French drain provides a more efficient water removal system. It will supplement your current drainage system and possibly prevent light flooding in the future.
Replace Your Weather Stripping
Weather strippings are barriers set up to prevent rain and snow from entering your garage. They wear down with time, and if they are not maintained and replaced consistently enough. They will crack, break, and allow water to flow in and flood your garage.
Install Flood Vents
Flood vents don’t necessarily prevent floods in that they won’t let water flow into your garage. They are helpful because they allow water to drain out more easily in the unfortunate event that you do get flooded.
Dealing With a Flood
If something unavoidable like a river flood or a water Main burst and you weren’t able to prevent flood water from leaking into your garage, here are a few steps you can take to deal with the aftermath:
- If the floodwater is wastewater or contaminated, you should contact your local flood restoration service and have them clear out the water for you. If its regular rainwater and you would like to handle the problem by yourself; then follow these next steps
- Stop the water from spreading any further. That means limiting it to your garage or the areas of your garage that it has already spread.
- Remove all wet items from the room immediately.
- Use a sump pump (that you should rent from your local hardware store) and clear out the water. Make sure you get every last drop of water and let the garage dry off by exposing it to air. Disinfect the area afterward to prevent the growth of mold. Clean the walls, doors, and wood that was soaked by floodwater and disinfect them too.