A flood prevention system is vital for the following reasons:

• Leaky pipes: It is recommended to check your pipes monthly to see if there are any leaks.
• Ice makers: If your refrigerator has an ice machine, the hose may be defective or not firmly connected.
• Bathrooms: Leaking pipes at the shower and bath are the #1 reason for water damage & mold.
• Hot water: Corrosion in water heating systems. Washing machines are also a culprit.
• Roof structures: Leaking roofs, gutters, and drains are also the main cause of flooding in the house.
• Windows & Doors: Water can penetrate through gaps and cracks in windows and doors.

Natural causes of a flood.

• River flooding: rivers can burst their banks after heavy rainfall leading to one of the most widespread types of flooding.
• Coastal flooding: storms and climate changes that cause rising sea-levels cause this type of flooding.
• Groundwater floods: caused by lack of drainage of groundwater particularly in areas built on permeable rock.
• Surface water flooding: caused by blocked drains, this type of flooding can hit any home at any time.

The following guide will help you avoid flooding, leaks & blockages in conjunction with a flood prevention system.

Memorize the location of your main shutoff valve

• This valve controls all new water coming into your home plumbing system.
• In the event of a burst pipe or emergency leak, closing it will quickly prevent further damage.
• Label it clearly – ideally with instructions – so anybody can easily close it at a moment’s notice.
• Make sure everybody in your household knows where to find it, and consider a “trial run” to avoid future panic.

Regularly clean your kitchen and bathroom drains

• Routine maintenance will minimize the risk of blocked drains.
• In the kitchen, pour a few liters of hot water down each sink from time to time.
• At the bathroom, use a wet-dry vacuum cleaner to dislodge the hair and grime that can easily build up over time.
• Drain cleaning products will do the rest, provided you’re careful not to cause damage to your piping.

Use the economy setting on your dishwasher

• Stacking your dishes conservatively and using shorter-timed settings are more than enough for a thorough clean.

Check for toilet leaks the easy way

• To detect one of the biggest causes of wasted water, place a little dye or food coloring into the toilet tank.
• If you see traces of it in the bowl the next day, it’s time to take action
• Usually, this will simply mean replacing your flush valve – a relatively easy DIY process.
• As they’re far from expensive, it’s generally a good idea to purchase one next time you visit a hardware store.
• This will save a significant amount of stress if an emergency replacement is needed on the spot.

Regularly check your laundry

• When water enters the washing machine via rubber hoses more prone to breaking or becoming dislodged.
• Regularly check for signs of blistering or cracking, and for additional peace of mind, consider upgrading to metal alternatives.
• As a cautionary measure, turn off these valves before leaving on holidays, just as you would any other appliance.

Flood prevention system

• Detectors are just as important as fire or burglar alarms when it comes to protecting our homes.
• Flood detectors, despite their name offer much more protection than floods.
• They detect moisture changes that can become leaks that can lead to flooding or mold.
• This can lead to structural damage in your home, which can result in costly repairs.

How does flood protection work?

• Humidity sensors are placed or installed throughout the house at potential points of leakage, overflow or flood risk.
• This can be done directly on the floor, in a cabinet under a sink or water heater, in the basement or next to a bathtub.
• As soon as water is detected, the sensor triggers the alarm – probably a loud, audible sound and/or flashing light.
• If the detector is connected to a monitoring system, the monitoring service immediately contacts the homeowner.

Flood detector options for the home

• There are many flood prevention systems available that can be customized to your needs.
• Battery powered or wireless detectors offer the benefits of long battery life and ease of installation.
• Connection to water cutoff systems is the fastest way to minimize damage.
• In sub-zero temperatures, some units are also equipped with a cold temperature monitoring system.

Why do you need flood protection?

If you’ve ever experienced water damage then you know all too well about the cost of damages.

For people who live in flood hazard areas, this makes sense from the perspective of prevention but makes sense for most.

Flood Detection offers:

• Early detection of moisture, water leaks, and floods.
• Mold protection, which can be a serious health hazard.

To select a flood prevention system

The best choice for a flood detection system is one that meets all the requirements of your family and your home.

Where you live and who lives with you, and the structural condition of your house determines the type of water protection you need:

• Humidity
• Water
• Temperature

The options you want for your protection system include:

• Wireless
• Shut-off valve
• Home monitoring service

For water leaks, please see our selection of leak detection devices.

Do It Yourself or Hire Someone?

DIY people are creating their own arts and crafts, performing car repairs and even cooking exotic dishes.

DIY folks are also pretty involved in their own home repairs, particularly, plumbing.

If there is a DIY project that a homeowner wants to stay away from, that would be plumbing repairs.

It can cause a great deal of inconvenience and cost a lot of money.

Knowing exactly what these mistakes are would be extremely beneficial.

Although DIY is popular due to “cost savings” it actually may end up costing a more going it alone.

Here are some of the top plumbing mistakes that can leave homeowners wishing they had just called a professional.

Hurry in fixing up

In most cases, people have to hurry in their plumbing work because they need their homes in order for a special event.

The fact is that it is never wise to rush through your plumbing work, regardless of the pressure on you to complete it fast.

The most common mistake in this regard is not to turn off the water.

If the task you are performing requires the water to be turned off, there is no exception.

Having a crooked installation

If you do not have the ideal skills to do plumbing work, do not dare.

One of the biggest mistakes in installing plumbing accessories is forgetting some details.

No matter how small, they contribute a lot to the overall integrity of the plumbing system.

It’s better to spend a little more money and get an expert to do the right job.

This will save money in the end because you did a shoddy job at repairing it by yourself.

Leaving hoses connected in winter

The devastating indoor floods can cause a surprising number of frozen pipes that will burst.

An important part of home maintenance in winter is the separation of the garden hose (s).

If you have a separate control, turn off the water that supplies the outlets.

Frozen Pipe Burst

Frozen pipes can easily burst because the water expands when frozen and the pipes are not designed for this swelling.

A burst water pipe can ruin a cellar, making you to wade through the water trying to save your belongings.

Floods like these causes excessive damage to floors, walls, and appliances.

If a pipe break goes unnoticed for too long, thousands of dollars have already been incurred in damages.

If the leak occurs in the floor or in the walls of your home, the damage can be even greater.

Mis-matching Pipes

In DIY plumbing, it is common to reach the nearest pipe of the right size and shape.

However, it is also important to pay attention to the material of the pipeline.

The most common mistakes when joining two pipes are related to material and size.

When fitting two pipes of different sizes, the correct joint must be used to ensure proper sealing.

Another very common mistake is to connect a galvanized metal pipe to a copper pipe.

These materials react to each other and the joint corrodes very quickly resulting in leaks.

To connect these materials, brass or other suitable fittings must be used.

Excessive use of the drain cleaner

A quick glance at the warnings on a bottle of drain cleaner shows you that it’s very heavy duty stuff.

Products designed to keep the drains clear and remove obstructions often contain extremely harsh chemicals.

With regular use, they do their job quite well and without side effects.

However, for stubborn blockages in the same pipe, drain cleaners can do more harm than good.

Pipe durability

We tend to think pipes are hard to damage, and they are. But they are still not invincible to damages.

Excessive use of something as hard as blockage remover can eat on the pipe, whether metal or PVC.

If a toilet or sink drain is clogged repeatedly, blockage removers will simply not be enough.

Persistent blockages are usually trapped in the pipeline and require traditional snake tools for home use.

It could be a toy, a piece of jewelry or even a tree root!

For clogs that continue to occur, it is best to consult a professional plumber.

They have larger and stronger snake tools and also have experience in the situation.

Ignoring the local laws

The average homeowner simply does not have the need to be familiar with plumbing regulations.

However, if you try a DIY project without consulting your city representative, you can expect a costly surprise.

Depending on the scope of work, many cities require a permit before you can work on a plumbing project.

Some areas require a permit to install a toilet, while others only require extensive renovations.

Find out about the rules in your area before engaging in a DIY plumbing job.

Do permits really matter?

It’s unlikely that the city will pop in your bathroom soon, right? Not correct.

Plumbing work that is carried out without permission can cause problems in a number of ways.

In all localities, there are rules and regulations governing plumbing work carried out in their respective jurisdictions.

While a homeowner may not know all the rules, every professional plumber must be well-versed.

Ignoring the law can cause problems when selling your home and may expose you to more risks.