5 Tips to prevent fall flooding

If you’re a plumber, fall in Vancouver means one thing: the beginning of flood season. Typically, levels of rainfall in our fair city reach their peak in November and continue to be substantial leading all the way into March. City infrastructure, though not infallible, is designed to handle this large amount of precipitation, with many drainage strategies in place to reduce the potential risks of flooding in residential, commercial and public areas. But the plumbing and supporting structures on your personal property are another story. Various factors can influence how well your home or business handles our abundant rainfall. Here are a few steps you can take to help prevent potential flooding on your property:

1. Clean your eavestroughs and downspouts
   Every autumn, you should clear your gutters of debris. Falling leaves can clog your eavestroughs and downspouts, causing water to spill over the sides instead of a safe distance away from your building’s foundation. Cleaning your gutters isn’t difficult and many homeowners can do this task on their own with the aid a ladder, protective gloves and a gutter scoop. Use your hose to run water through the eavestrough and downspout to clear any blockages.
2. Invest in a sump pump
   A sump pump can help protect your property should water enter your basement. These devices are pumps that drain water away from the inside of your home or business, and channels it a safe distance away from the building. Sump pumps typically sit in a sump pit buried in your basement floor. They’re especially beneficial for buildings that sit on a flat lot.
3. Make sure your sump pump has a backup battery
   Flooding in your home or business is likely to be accompanied by a blackout. To make sure it works in this scenario, it’s a good idea to have a backup battery or generator that will automatically become activated during a power outage.
4. Install a sewer backflow valve
   In the event municipal drainage infrastructure should fail, this device can make the difference between whether or not your home gets inundated with sewage. The best type of sewer backflow valve is automatic (a manual version is also possible) that will mechanically sense when the sewage is creeping up the drain pipe, and release a flap that closes up the system.
5. Make sure your property is graded properly
   The main principle behind flood prevention rests in ensuring that precipitation is pulled away from your building. For this reason, it’s important that your lot slope away from the foundation of your home or business. If you suspect your lot is too flat or that it slopes towards the building, it’s best to get it fixed to prevent possible flooding.

Plumbers you can count on

If you need a plumber to help install a sump pump or sewer backflow valve, look no further than Hillcrest Plumbing & Heating. We serve all of Vancouver and most surrounding areas including Langley, Tsawwassen, Burnaby, North Vancouver and more. Contact us today if you need a plumber or keep our number handy for when you need us.