Experts warn Brits to act now: How to protect your home from heavy flooding

Hi there,

Happy New Year!

Unfortunately for many, the new year hasn’t started most positively, with hundreds of people across North West England being evacuated from their homes after a major incident was declared due to severe flooding.

As the rain continues to pour, potentially even turning to snow this weekend, experts at Howarth Timber have shared their insight into protecting your home from flooding. Emily Green, an expert at Howarth Timber, has shared how flooding can impact your home, the common causes, and advice for recovering quickly.

Please see below for her full commentary.

Would this advice be of interest considering the current weather warnings?

Many thanks,

Flora

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Experts warn Brits to act now: How to protect your home from heavy flooding

A ‘major incident’ has been declared after floods run rampant across North West England on New Year’s Day

2025 has started in full force with New Year’s Day flooding being declared a major incident in large parts of the UK, with hundreds of people being evacuated from their homes due to severe flooding.

Every year, roughly 2.4 million UK houses are affected by river and coastal flooding.*

With this in mind, Emily Green, expert at Howarth Timber, has shared her top tips on how to protect your home from heavy flooding amid the winter weather.

Emily’s insights explain how a flood can damage your house, the common causes, and advice for recovering quickly.

Three ways flood damage may impact your house
Damage to electrics
One of the most serious consequences of a storm is flood intrusion into electrics. Because of the potentially fatal mix of water and electricity, this problem must be addressed as soon as possible. A competent electrician will need to replace any exposed plug sockets and wiring.

Metals oxidise at a considerably higher rate when exposed to water than when exposed to air. If the water includes contaminants, salts might accelerate oxidation.

Damage to foundation and structure
If floodwater sits in a structure for an extended amount of time, it will begin to corrode the materials. Water will remain in a structure for a long time after a flood has passed unless moisture management equipment and large power fans are used promptly to dry it out.

Floods can also cause structural damage by pressing on the foundation and basement of a structure. Even if the flood was not high enough to reach your home, the ground outside might remain wet for days if you do not mop up any flood water immediately. Under the strain of this water, the foundation or basement walls of a building may break or collapse.

Damage to furniture
Floodwaters can infect and ruin soft furniture and carpets for good. Furthermore, the risk of mould and mildew, as well as the accumulation of bacteria, demands the restoration of damaged furniture. Certain furniture may be recoverable with intensive professional cleaning; nevertheless, some things may cost more to rescue than to replace. Chipboard furniture will quickly absorb water, but plastic and solid wood objects may remain intact after being completely cleaned and dried.

Common causes of flooding and how to avoid them
Broken pipes
Heavy objects falling on them or harsh handling during building or remodelling operations can cause broken pipes. Check for water running down the wall near the pipe or beneath a sink or tub if you fear a pipe has broken. Water may also be seen leaking from beneath the floor.

It is important to inspect your pipes on a regular basis and be aware of their location outside of the property.

Clogged drains
Flooding in your house can also be caused by a clogged drain. If your drain is clogged, you may see water backing up into sinks and tubs after they have been used, especially if they are near toilets or showers. Standing water may also be found in toilets, baths, and sinks after they have been used. Using drain guards in kitchen sinks and a metal mesh drain screen where appropriate can assist in avoiding clogging.

Clogged gutters
A clogged gutter can cause leaks under the roof and ultimately into your home’s walls. When gutters get clogged with leaves or other debris, rainfall collects in them rather than flowing away from the home via downspouts and drains at the base of each wall. Gutter cleaning should be done on a regular basis to guarantee that water is constantly directed away from your property.

Broken appliances
If your washing machine, refrigerator, or dishwasher isn’t operating properly, water might overflow and flood your kitchen. Improper installation or defective wiring might lead to damaged equipment. It’s critical to inspect these appliances on a regular basis to ensure they’re in good operating order and aren’t leaking. Flooding can occur if a pipe is left neglected or is broken.

Foundation damage
One of the most common causes of flooding in a home is foundation damage. This might happen if there is too much water surrounding your property or if your foundation walls have cracks that enable water to pour through. If this happens to your house, foundation repair is vital to avoiding severe flooding. It is advised that everyone living in a high-risk location investigates foundation damage prior to severe weather since this helps to prepare for unexpected events.

How to prepare for a flood
Flooding is unpredictable, but there are actions you can take to determine your level of risk and effectively prepare for these hazardous conditions.

Homeowners, for example, may easily determine their risk by entering their postcode into the government’s Flood Warnings in England page. Flood planning maps illustrate where flooding is expected to occur, allowing you to estimate your risk and take the necessary precautions to protect yourself and your home.

What to do if you experience flooding in your home
If your home has been flooded, you must act quickly to minimise damage and quickly dry out your property. There are a few things you can do right away to help reduce the length of time it takes for your house to dry out and the risk of electronic fires.

First, make sure that all devices in your home are completely unplugged before they are infiltrated by water. This includes televisions, laptops, and other major equipment. If any of these things are plugged in while submerged in water, they may be damaged or short-circuit due to moisture exposure.

If there is severe flooding, you should hire a submersible pump to drain the water. Once this is done, the next stage in flood restoration is to dry out the affected area with additional drying equipment. Hiring an air mover (carpet drier) and dehumidifier will save drying time dramatically.