Can Flooding Cause Foundation Damage?
If you live in an area prone to flooding, it is important to understand the risks of what could happen to your home if a flood does occur. A flood can damage both the interior and exterior of your home, as well as any possessions that you have. One question many homeowners ask is whether or not a flood can damage the actual foundation of their house. After all, the foundation is what holds the house up. So, keep reading to find out whether or not your home’s foundation can be damaged by flooding.
Flooding and Foundation Damage
One of the most serious risks of flooding is damage to your foundation. Floodwaters can erode the soil around your foundation, making it unstable and causing cracks. The other risks of flooding include mold growth, electrical hazards, and furniture damage. When there is damage to your foundation, it lowers the entire structural integrity of your home. The force of the flood water itself is strong enough to cause damage.
If you want to know how much damage was caused to your home, there are a few things to consider and look out for. For example, you need to know how high the floodwaters got, how fast the water was flowing, and how long the home itself was exposed to the floodwater.
How to Check for Flood Damage
When checking your foundation for flood damage, you first will want to take a walk around the entire home. As you do so, make sure you are checking to see if there are any signs of the home moving or shifting. You may notice the house leaning, or you may find cracks in the foundation. You will also want to check and see that the other structural connection points are still secure. These points include metal bolts, clips, straps, and beams.
Those are not the only ways to detect flood damage to your home’s foundation. You can also keep an eye out for some of the following:
- Doors and windows become difficult to operate
- Gaps around doors and windows
- Tilting floors or sloping floors
- Loose or cracked bricks
- Crown molding is separating from wall
- A backed up sewer line
Considering Flood Insurance
To prevent flood damage, it’s important to have flood insurance. Flood insurance will cover the cost of repairing your home and replacing your belongings. It’s also a good idea to take steps to protect your home from flood waters, such as elevating electrical components and removing valuables from flood-prone areas. Keep an inventory of everything that you have in your home – this way, if something goes wrong, you will know exactly what is missing after the flood.
What is Flood Insurance?
Flood insurance is a type of insurance that covers the cost of repairing your home and replacing your belongings if they are damaged by floodwaters. Flood insurance is important because it can help you recover from a flood, even if your home is not in a floodplain. After all, most times a homeowners insurance policy will not cover any kind of flood damage. To get flood insurance, you’ll need to purchase a separate policy from your homeowners insurance. This can be through the same company of your homeowners insurance, or a different one. Flood insurance is available through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). You also can obtain flood insurance through a private insurance company.
Preventing Flood Damage
There are some steps you can take to prevent flood damage to your home. These include:
- Elevating electrical components: This will help protect them from floodwaters.
- Removing valuables from flood-prone areas: If possible, move them to a higher level in your home or store them somewhere outside of your home.
- Installing flood vents: These vents can help reduce the pressure on your foundation and prevent floodwaters from entering your home.
- Own sandbags: When you have sandbags, you can use them to prevent flood waters from getting in through doorways and windows.
- Keep up with your drains: Make sure you are consistently checking your drains to make sure they are clean and up to date. They will help flood water from getting into your home.
Contact Sound Choice Insurance
In conclusion, flooding can indeed cause damage to your foundation, and flood insurance will cover the cost of repairing this damage. While it is protected by flood insurance, it’s also important to take steps to prevent flood damage by protecting your home from floodwaters.
Since flood insurance is the best way to protect your home from flood damage, you should be sure to purchase a policy if you live in a floodplain or other high-risk area. If you are looking for flood insurance near Morehead City, North Carolina, contact us here at Sound Choice Insurance! Our expert insurance agents are happy to help you find the best flood insurance coverage for your home. Give us a call at your earliest convenience and we can get started on helping you find a proper flood insurance policy. This way, if a flood does occur at your home, you will be covered.