Flooding in Canada is not unheard of. Every year, the volume of water in a river or stream exceeds the capacity of the channel, which then leads to floods. Provinces in Canada face the brunt of floods even when higher than normal water levels in the seas and lakes inundate low-lying areas. The recent floods at New Brunswick, British Columbia, Alberta and a few other provinces left many homes and public infrastructure in a state of disarray owing to the widespread damage.

Be it due to whatever reason, floods are a common occurrence in Canada. Especially, the ones caused due to the melting of snow (also known as freshet). And, it is important that you adhere to some flood prevention tips to ensure minimum damage to your home. Whether you are a landlord, tenant or simply a homeowner, following these flood prevention tips can reduce your chances of drowning or swimming in your home along with your furniture and other belongings.

1. Clean Your Gutters

For some of you, even the thought of inspecting your gutter might seem preposterous and gross. But neglecting the cleanliness of your gutter can cost you dearly during a flood disaster. Gutters are usually filled with debris, vegetation and are sometimes home to pests, rodents, molds and honeycombs. All these obstructions can affect the flow of wastewater away from your home. And you want to do everything possible to ensure that the flood water drains away from your property. So, make sure you clean your gutters to ensure it does not seep into your building foundation and cause foundational damage.

2. Inspect Your Property

To begin with, take a close look at each and every part of your home. Check for any kind of internal or external damage to walls, roofs, etc. due to standing water. Make note of all damages and everything that needs to be fixed. If you are a tenant, then report these damages to your landlord and ask them to fix the issues before summer. You can alternatively opt to call a professional to assess the structural strength of your rental property and accordingly take action.

3. Check Downspouts

Technically, gutters and downspouts fall under the same category. You need to clean your downspouts for the same reason why you would clean your gutter. They are also an outlet for wastewater to drain away from your home. Hence, it is important to get a professional to do the job right. Also, see to it that the downspouts in your property are anchored properly to prevent them from being broken or torn apart during stormy winds.

4. Install a Sewage Water Backstop

Since Canada is extremely susceptible to flooding, you can benefit considerably by installing sewage water backstops. Sometimes floods can result in the water draining back into your basement (that’s the last thing you want). Water backstops can prevent this from happening. It will ensure that water that drains away does not rush back to its original spot.

5. Rework Your Landscaping

Let’s face it, no matter how hard we work on our landscapes to keep it well-kept, a natural disaster like a flood can ruin everything. Having said that, you can ensure that there is minimum damage caused in the process. How do you do that? Consider reworking your landscape. A creatively designed landscape can help in driving all the water away from the foundation of your home, thereby preventing floods in your home.

6. Elevate Your Boiler

This is not a flood prevention tip but a flood countering tip. Utilities, boilers, central air-conditioning units, and other HVAC equipment normally located at the lowest level of a home are particularly vulnerable to flood damage. Consider bringing them to higher ground, either by building platforms if your flood risk is minimal or by moving them to another floor. Your insurance agent and a contractor can advise on logistics and cost.

7. Repair Your Roof If Required

Showers look good only in the bathroom, which is why you should repair your roof and replace any missing shingles. Most people tend to overlook their roof while inspecting their home and notice the problem only when it’s too late. If there are stains, cracks or water leakage, then you might want to pay attention to your roof at the earliest.

8. Check For Cracks

Cracks in your exterior and interior walls can result in water accumulating in your house. It can then seep into the foundation of your home and cause structural damage during floods.

9. Inspect the Foundation of Your Home

Under no circumstance should the foundation of your home be compromised. Just the way a relationship needs a strong foundation, a structural entity like a home too, needs a strong and durable foundation that can stay strong even during stormy weather and flash floods. Gaps and cracks in the foundation of your home can cause water to seep into your home during heavy rains. Hence, make sure you get a professional to inspect the foundation of your home and do the needful.

10. Pack Your Outdoor Furniture

Irrespective of how much we wish for it, our expensive wooden outdoor furniture is not waterproof. And even if it was, it’s highly unlikely that it would survive a gruesome flooding. Hence, you ought to pack up all your outdoor furniture and have them kept indoors as soon as the weather department predicts a storm or flood.

These flood prevention tips are essential to ensure you are prepared for the summer and tough disasters it could bring your way. Irrespective of whether you own the property or it is rented one, prevention is always better than cure. In this case, the cure is possibly out of question because once the flood damages your property, then there is nothing much that can be done. Now, stopping the calamity might not be in your hands but you can certainly ensure that damage you face is minimal.