DIY Flood Defences

[Ricardus]

Dont forget to cover your airbricks.

Search the internet for property level flood protection for more advice and ideas

Consider using some kind of inflating pipe blocker in your sewer and drains

One thing that occured to me is that I have one of those electricity meters that sits in a box recessed into the outside cavity wall. If the water got high enough (2ft?) it would flood into the cavity.
Worse, when I had my cavity wall insulation done it was the recycled newspaper type stuff which I'm guessing isn't water friendly, would wick the water higher up the walls than the water level and would take ages to dry out.

Fortunately for me I'm on a hillside around 30m above sea level so if the water is lapping at my windowsills I'll probably have bigger concerns.

 

[jonwestuk]

Great responses all, really useful for me and others.

Interesting point regarding Sharp Sand vs regular building sand. I was at a leading building merchant this morning and they mentioned that everyone was purchasing building sand and that this is what they were recommending.

Fortunately I knew differently and purchased sharp sand.

I imagine this is one of the key reasons that there are so many complaints that the sand falls out of the sand bags that people have purchased.

 

[jonwestuk]

Make sure you dont put too much of a head of water against your house - it's very heavy and might have structural implications.

Make sure your pump is submersible if it's at ground level in case your house floods deeper than you thought.

Pump access should be simple - once waters recede, there will be lots of silt to clean out of it.

Perhaps site your pump in a higher, vented, location. Then use pipewprk to evacuate the water

Perhaps try a few smaller pumps than one big one. U have redundancy then

Perhaps thin about diesel pumps or get a genny (above max flood levels!) you never know when power will fail.

As a rule - site sockets at 1m from ground - wires from ceiling. Then less rewiring after floods recede.

Dont forget to cover your airbricks.

Search the internet for property level flood protection for more advice and ideas

Consider using some kind of inflating pipe blocker in your sewer and drains

For longer duration floods you are probably best just letting the water reach equilibrium - movig as much as humanly possible to a first floor or above.

Contact the Environment Agency asking for modelled and historic flood levels effecting your property - they should be free for personal use and they will give an idea of how high the levels *might* get in worse case scenario.

Hope this helps! Whitling2k

Any thoughts on when you would remove flood defences and let some water into the house to reduce head pressure on the house?

Would one say that there should only be a 1 meter differential between outside and inside level?

 

[Whitling2k]

I really wouldn't want to give advice on that - other than perhaps consult structural engineer or property level flood protection company.

It depends on so much stuff - wall construction, foundation depth, support on the other side (i.e. Other walls), length of unsupported wall, height differential, how long load is against wall etc etc.

It's a real risk - so best not defend too high for too long.