Coastal locations and river floodplains are most vulnerable to flooding, as well as places that often experience heavy and continuous rain. Big and major cities are not free from flooding either due to a lack of drainage. In short, nature is unpredictable and can hit any place anytime.
The garage is one of the most frequently flooded areas of a house. Bad weather conditions are not the only culprit because broken pipes can also be blamed. When these occur, your vehicle can be immersed, causing damage to electrical systems, mechanical systems, lubricants, and others. Fortunately, you can protect your vehicle from floodwater by following these steps:
1. Park Your Car on Elevated Areas
Whether it’s the rainy season or not, always try to park your car in a higher parking spot if you have access. This is most helpful for people with a hatchback or sedan since they are comparatively lower. Floodwater will first gather in low-lying areas before rising, which can result in your vehicle’s electronic devices and mechanical parts damaged if left soaked in water.
2. Disconnect the Batteries
If there’s a storm or heavy rainfall coming and rivers and dams surround you, it’s always best to unplug your car batteries before it hits. It can protect all the electrical systems of your vehicle if it gets submerged.
3. Ensure Your Car Is Sealed
Be sure that your vehicle’s doors, windows, and sunroofs are securely sealed before a storm arrives. Repair any holes that you see, even the smallest ones, from previous damage. Also, make sure that your windows don’t have gaps so that water won’t enter the cabin.
4. Ramp Up Your Vehicle
During The rainy season, it’s helpful to know weather forecasts to determine the chances of storms. A wise quote says, “It’s better to prepare and prevent than repair and repent.” Ramp your car up to the point that it does not sink to the ground if you don’t have access to higher ground. Hydrolock can occur when water gets into your car’s engine, which significantly reduces the value of your four-wheel drive.
5. Bag Your Car
Nowadays, manufacturers are marketing huge waterproof guards designed to secure your parked vehicle during a garage flood. While the durability of these materials is not guaranteed from sharp pieces of particles, they can help protect your auto against damage that you can’t control.
6. Repair or Fix Damage on Your Garage to Avoid Flooding
Buying all available products to protect your car is useless if you don’t fix the main problem. Using sandbags and other flood barriers can be a quick fix to prevent flooding if a storm is coming. This will redirect water away from your garage to storm drains and different directions.
If there are cracks in your foundation, make sure to fix these because they enable water to leak into your garage. You can also utilize weatherstripping if there are gaps between your garage floor and garage door. Install it under the garage door to firmly secure it against the floor. In extreme flooding, immediately contact water damage restoration companies, such as PuroClean Hollywood, FL, to avoid further damage and costly repairs.
Final Thoughts
If you live in flooding and storm-prone places or dams and rivers surround your house, make it a habit to monitor weather updates to ensure that you can prepare ahead of time. While you can not prevent a natural disaster, you can take preventive measures to protect your relatives, residence, vehicle, and other valuables.
Furthermore, keep emergency numbers at hand. Along with your local fire department, authorities, 911, Red Cross, and other public agencies and NGOs, you must also have a list of trusted water damage renovation companies in your location. They are the right people for cleaning up, saving, and restoring your home and belongings.
When picking the right restoration company, it always helps to click their “visit us here” page on their website to know about their services, location, and costs.
