With the arrival of March and April, flood season is headed this way. Because March is Flood Awareness Month, it is a good time to look at the preventative measures homeowners can take to ensure that your property remains safe through flood season. Brooklyn plumbing is not immune to flooding risks, as many residents saw last July when thigh-high waters gushed through the streets. Last year a wall collapsed on the Dilligard family in the area around Fourth Ave. and Carroll St. Take steps to help prepare your home and prevent damage.
Check on the backflow systems within your house. If you have a backflow valve, have it inspected. If it needs replacement, take care of it before you find yourself relying on it during the next flood. If you do not have a backflow valve on your property, now is the time to get one. A properly installed backflow valve on your sewer line will help keep your house free of dangerous gasses and bacteria.
Install a sump pump. If you are in a flood-prone area, these sump pumps will help keep water out of areas that you do not want it, especially basements and other low-lying areas. Make sure to purchase a quality sump pump and have it installed by a qualified professional.
Check on your flood insurance policy. Download your local flood map to discern precisely the flood region in which you reside. Your policy and the flood map will indicate if you are protected in the event that property loss due to flood occurs.
If you know that flooding is going to occur, try to elevate all appliances at least twelve inches off the ground on cinder blocks. Preferably relocate them to a second floor. This will help keep your appliances dry in the event of flooding.
Consider battery backups to protect vital systems within your home. If you have the need for a pump to remove water, it will not do you any good if the power goes out and it does not have a battery backup. That backup may be the difference between a pump that functions and one that is virtually useless during a power outage. Remember to locate the battery backup above the floodwater line.
Need an inspection of your Brooklyn plumbing system, or to get your home ready for flood season? Contact Park Slope based Aladdin Plumbing so we can help prepare your home before flood season arrives.