Temporary flood protection equipment
Flood protection equipment can help stop flood water. Follow manufacturer instructions to put these in place when you get a flood warning.
Plastic covers to seal airbricks
These can stop flood water coming in through your airbricks.
Sandbags
Your local council may provide these during a flood, but they may be scarce. You can buy your own sand and bags, or fill pillowcases and plastic bags with earth. Be aware that following a flood they will be contaminated by sewage in the water.
Floodboards
These fix to frames around windows and doors. They can be washed, stored and used again. Always remove flood protection equipment once the flood water has gone. This will help your property dry out.
Further steps to protect your property
There are things you can do to your property that will make it easier and cheaper to clean up after a flood. However, these are likely to cost more to put in place and take longer to do.
- Lay ceramic tiles on your ground floor and use rugs instead of fitted carpets.
- Raise the height of electrical sockets to 1.5 metres above ground floor level.
- Use lime plaster instead of gypsum on walls.
- Fit stainless steel or plastic kitchens instead of chipboard ones.
- Position any main parts of a heating or ventilation system, like a boiler, upstairs.
- Fit non-return valves to all drains and water inlet pipes.
- Replace wooden window frames and doors with synthetic ones.
