Securing Your Domestic Space: Guidelines for Home Security Enhancement
Barricading Your Home Against Floods: A Comprehensive Guide
Embrace the Protective Power!
Curb the risks of flooding and ward off overloading your sewer network with these strategic installations. Tailor them to your unique household situation, as no two homes are alike. Here's what you need to check first, especially if you're in a low-lying area.
Lock Down with Backflow Preventers
Buttress your home against wastewater backing up inside by employing the mighty backflow preventers. These bad boys only allow flow in one direction, safeguarding your sanctuary. Remember, multiple types might be necessary in different locations such as the main collector, toilet or shower return, and floor drain. Backflow preventers are compulsory in Montreal for new buildings, plumbing work, and buildings that have flooded. Always ensure they're accessible and regularly inspected.
Embrace Hydronic Harmony: Water Drainage
A submersible pump positioned at the basement's lowest ebb is the heart of your water evacuation system. This hero resides in a pit or sump and springs to life when water accumulates. Ideally, your pump should be connected to a backup battery to ensure it chugs along during power outages. Allow the water to flow out via a floor drain, and a foundation drain (French drain) will sop up rainwater that seeps along the foundation.
Reclaim Your Front Yard
For top-notch flood protection, the terrain around your home should have a slope of no less than 2% incline, diverting water far, far away. Materials like permeable paving and gravel, which facilitate water infiltration through the soil, can reduce runoff. Planting vegetated surfaces like a rain garden, brimming with plants fit for this role, can also be a smart move.
Halt those Garage Troubles
This type of garage, regrettably prevalent in many Montreal homes, is almost universally banned due to the threat it poses during heavy rains. To fortify your dwelling, you can permanently slam shut the garage and fill in the inclined entrance (if your borough's regulations allow it). Alternatively, you can arm yourself with a watertight garage door hoisted with a drain at its base, along with a hump between the street and the entrance to deter street water from flooding your garage.
Sandbag Warfare
Permanent modifications might not be feasible for every homeowner, in which case, temporary sandbags can be your go-to defense during heavy rain. After examining research conducted by the National Research Council of Canada, it's clear that inflatable sandbags reign supreme in our arsenal. These clever bags can be stationed before doors and windows to stop water from entering.
Enlist Gutter troops
Houses adorned with a sloping rooftop need gutter enlistment to battle against water intrusion. Montreal regulations prohibit gutters from being connected to the foundation drain or the sewer, avoiding unnecessary strain on the municipal network. Guide downspouts at least 1.5 meters away from foundations and into adaptable surfaces to shield your home's foundation from flooding. If you own a rain barrel to collect rainwater, the overflow must adhere to the same guidelines.
In the Heat of Battle: The Essential Warriors
To fight flooding effectively and maintain your home's integrity, reinforce your defenses with these warriors:
- Backflow Preventers: Stormproof your home with these babysitters, ensuring sewage and stormwater don't invade your humble abode.
- Water Drainage Systems: Water management is crucial for a flood-proof house. French drains, sump pumps, and ground grading are the tools of the trade.
- Exterior Modifications: Modify the landscape around your house to keep water at bay, by using barriers, berms, and vegetation beds.
- Garage Entrance Barriers: Avert flooding in the garage by arming yourself with innovative barriers and sealing garage doors.
- Sandbags and Inflatable Sandbags: Temporary flood defenses that can help protect vital areas until larger, permanent solutions are in place.
- Gutters and Downspouts: Rout water away from your home's foundation by maintaining clean gutters and guiding downspouts into adaptive surfaces.
- In addition to the necessary backflow preventers in Montreal, a home in a low-lying area should also have a French drain installed to prevent flooding by sopping up rainwater that seeps along the foundation.
- Regularly inspect your home's backflow preventers to ensure they are functioning correctly and safeguarding your sanctuary from wastewater backing up inside.
- For top-notch flood protection, the terrain around your home should have a 2% incline slope to divert water away during heavy rain, and materials like permeable paving and gravel can facilitate water infiltration through the soil.
- To fortify your home's garage against flooding, consider filling in the inclined entrance (if your borough's regulations allow it) or arming yourself with a watertight garage door hoisted with a drain at its base, along with a hump between the street and the entrance to deter street water from flooding your garage.
