According to a survey, it’s said that “The United States had 167,000 people exposed to floods in a average year, the most for any developed nation, putting it 18th on a ranking of more than 160 nations.” (for more detail, you can refer to this website. )
If you want to effectively prevent your garage from flood, it’s a must for you to have a full understanding of different types of flood.
- Flash flood – a local flood of short duration resulting from heavy rainfall in the immediate vicinity
- Storm surge – the abnormal rise of water generated by a storm, over and above the predicted astronomical tides
- Tropical storm(typhoon) – a tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds between 39 and 73 mph
- Hurricane – an intense tropical cyclone with sustained winds of 74 mph or higher
Causes of Garage Flooding
Unearthing the common causes of a flooded garage can be helpful to protect your garage possessions. Now let us jump into the most common causes of garage flooding.
Sewage Flooding/Drainage Systems
Sewer flooding arises from clogging, pressure, or blockage in the drainage pipes, which are often due to bad weather conditions, such as when too much rainwater enters the sewers from surrounding houses, roads and land.
Sewage leaks can happen from underneath the garage and seep up, or in the yard near the garage.
Broke Water Pipes
Fresh water pipes (which are located in the yard) that offer water to a house can burst, if the temperature gets too extreme frozen or hot, which causes the water to enter the garage from the ground below.
Flooding Related to Bad Weather
Heavy rainfall, hurricane or storm surges can cause garage flooding. Rain water can hit from nearby sources – nearby streams, broken dams, lakes, or uneven ground.
Poor Floor and Wall Sealing/Foundation
Another common reason for garage flooding is poor foundation. If you feel water in a floor after heavy storms and downpours, its seal is quite possibly a problem. If the walls have not been sealed properly in the course of the construction of your house, water will easily seep through them in the event of extreme weather conditions. Call a professional immediately to to fix it.
Unsuitable Locations for Your garage
One of the most typical causes of basement flooding is that the house has been built in an unsuitable location, especially lowland. If that is the case, rain water can hit your garage from all angles, including above, below, or into the side.
Before the Flood Happen Your Garage
Now that we have know how water gets into the garage, let’s take a look at some helpful tips to prepare for home flooding.
1.Lay Flood Barriers and Sandbags
If you live in a lowland area, consider installing sandbags or barrier in front of your garage or home. Sandbags can be stacked to created a temporary dam to direct water toward a proper exit point while a flood barrier can block off water from the garage.
2.Install or Replace Weatherstripping
Another typical way of flood damage prevention is to install or replace the weatherstripping on the bottom of the garage door. If you already have a weather-stripping on the garage door, you need to conduct a routinely work to make sure it hasn’t worn out and started gapping from the floor.
3.Install Adequate Drainage
Install adequate flood drainage to divert water path away from the garage. It’s a very helpful addition especially whenever there is a serious flooding in your area.
4.Inspect Foundation for Cracks and Damage
Have you inspected exterior foundation and your basement's walls and floors regularly? Maintaining a strong foundation is a critical link to preventing flooding in your garage, because cracks or damage could cause a sewage line or sewer water pipes to burst. Use epoxy or air brick covers to fill any foundation cracks and if the problems are more serious, talk to a pro.
5.Install Flood Vents
It’s a way for water to get out form the garage. Cost-effective flood vents not only can withstand rust, rot and rodents, but also keep air and moisture out of a garage.
6.Install Overhead Storage Racks
Loft space is the least vulnerable spot for flood damage. Also, storing anything in an attic avoid burglars in the unhappy event of a break-in. Maximise this loft space with overhead storage racks, which can protect any items that come into contact with flood water.
If you want to know more about how to maximize your overhead space, you can go to our blog where it has more detail.
Blog link: https://garageage.com/blogs/news/garage-overhead-organizer
7.Gutters & Downspouts
Clogged or broken gutters will lead to improper directing of water (from rain or melted snow) onto the ground and head toward the garage foundation. Make sure that your gutters are free of leaves and other debris and repair any crack or holes. Position downspouts away from the foundation.
8.Waterproof Veneer
Applying waterproof veneer to the side walls of the garage frame will create a seal to ensure that there are no cracks for any water to seep in from the outside.
9.Maintain Sump Pumps
Check a below-grade sump pump regularly to see whether it work in orderly or it is free of debris. Position a portable pump in the lowest part of the basement and be sure it's connected to a enough power source.
10. Clean Sewers & Septics
It’s high time that you have your sewer inspected or your septic tank cleaned. During periods of prolonged, heavy rainfall, clogged sewers and over-taxed septics are disasters waiting to happen.
11.Cover Window Well
Install window well covers on your below-grade basement windows, which will fasten securely to your garage's foundation and keep out rain.
Flood Prevention Products
There are a range of products to control the flow of flood water away from your garage. See what we found below- from the familiar to the more unusual.
This video shows many kinds of flood prevention production.
Sandbag
① POLY SAND BAG - Lightweight and durable polyester sandbags
② SYNTHETIC RESISTANCES - excellent resistance to weather, moisture, chemicals, UV rays, and abrasion.
③ VERSATILE USES - protection from flooding & mudslides, explosives & gunfire, as construction maintenance, building support, makeshift shelters, and more
④ SIZES, COLORS, & BULK OPTIONS - 14 inches x 26 inches and 3 colors: Green, Orange, and White. Bulk options: a 10-pack, 25-pack, 50-pack, or 100-pack.
GENUINE CUSTOMER COMMENT
Threshold Kit
View on Amazon
① Keeps out rodents and prevents water, leaves, dust and debris from being blown under garage door
② Is robust and will stay in position when driven over
③ Can prevent flooding
④ Made from environmentally friendly and recyclable materials Suitable for residential use; max vehicle weight 4,500lbs
GENUINE CUSTOMER COMMENT
Quick Dam
① Water Activated Flood Barriers, Rated #1 in Flood Control
② Grows to 3.5in high in minutes, just get them wet
Air brick covers
① Airbrick Flood Water Defence.
② White frame and cover.
③ Discreet solution to the problems of flood damage caused by unprotected airbricks.
④ In the event of a flood the easy to fit cover clips onto the frame to stop water from entering.
⑤ Designed to cover the opening of a 9" x 3" airbrick.
External doors
① Comes ready to use. Fit within minutes.
② No tools required. Hand adjustable clips.
③ No permanent fixtures or fittings to property.
④ Cannot be stolen when door is closed
⑤ Available in 6 different width sizes. All 24 inches in height
When Your Garage Flood
Above picture shows us a process of flood, from preparation to restoration. As you can see from it, you cannot always prevent a flood from occurring in your garage. So unfortunately, if your garage does flood, check out these tips to help it restore to previous condition.
Calm down and Be Careful: Whenever you are experiencing a flood in your garage, you should always be caution because you never know what kind of dangers it will create.
After Your Garage Flood
Things you are going to do after your garage flood are as following, or you can refer to below video.
Cleaning
The first thing you should do after the flood waters have receded is to take out wet contents, and dry them completely under the sun. Secondly, discard items that have been badly damaged or soaked in water. Thirdly, remove water by using the right tools and equipment.
Electrical Systems
The last thing you want to do is to risk your family’s safety, and thus cutting off the power is absolutely the number one thing you should do to prevent electrocution or overload. In addition, turning off the power may prevent further damage to electrical components in your garage, like your garage door opener.
Call a Professional
Above are several steps, you may want to ask a professional to help you analyze and evaluate the damage situation, before you even enter the garage.
Private Flood Insurance Claims
You will be very glad that you have purchase property insurance after the flood. Contact your insurance company, take photos of all the damage, a video also helps. Check out the Flood Insurance.
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