How To Prepare For/Prevent Summer Flash Floods

A flash flood is a heavy dumping of rain in a very short period of time – and in the GTA this summer, we’ve been hearing about them, and seeing them, more and more. With the high volumes of rain, the ground is saturated, and this means the groundwater has nowhere to go.

There are a few easy things you can do to ensure a heavy rainfall does not have any damaging effects on your home or property. First, keep your eaves troughs clean. This will help the water get to the downspouts and spill onto the ground to flow away from the home.

Second, make sure that if you have a sump pump, you check it not only in the spring after the snow melts, but also in June to prepare for the summer rain.

Lastly, install a sewage backflow preventer. This device is installed along the waste line just under the concrete floor as they exit your home. When the sewage lines in the street are full, they start to back up into basements. This device stops the flow back into the home with a valve that senses the flow of liquids backwards in the line. It’s important to keep in mind that the device must be cleaned once a year!

Taking these small preventative measures will save you stress and money in the long run! Do you have any other tips for dealing with flash flooding, or preventing it? Let us know in the comments!