Flooding is a significant risk for property owners in the UK. Over five million homes and businesses are at risk - about one in six properties.
These events can cause severe damage to buildings and belongings, often triggered by natural weather events or preventable home maintenance issues.
As the UK climate continues to change, the risk of flooding is growing.
Homeowners must protect their property and reduce damage when flooding occurs.
By preparing, you can minimise the impact on your home and possessions.
The most common causes of floods are large-scale geographical factors beyond human control, resulting from excess low-lying water in specific areas. Some common causes include:
These factors can cause water to enter your property through doors, windows, or drains.
Flooding can even happen on dry days due to plumbing problems, such as bursts or clogged pipes.
Flooding associated with weather phenomena may seem difficult for those living in high-risk areas, as such incidents are typically caused by factors beyond an individual homeowner’s control.
However, steps can still be taken to reduce the danger level as much as possible.
No matter where you live, being aware of flood risks can sometimes mean distinguishing between a protected and a damaged property.
Those living in high-risk areas will often be aware of this, as their house and contents insurance costs are likely higher.
However, you can use the flood risk maps if you need clarification and want to check.
They examine risks brought about by rivers, the sea, surface water, and reservoirs and can provide valuable information about local risk factors.
For more details, contact the Environment Agency, which can provide information about the history of flooding around a property.
You can sign up for flood warnings if you live in England or Wales. You never know when some advanced knowledge could help you save what’s important!
Sign up for flood warnings here.
These alerts can be delivered via email, text, or phone call and are offered as a free service.
The Met Office is another helpful resource. Its website and app provide five-day weather forecasts, warnings, and coping advice.
DEFRA also includes information about flooding, while the National Highways weather watch offers valuable guidance for journey planning.
Last but not least, you can also find flood alert news on our social media accounts, and we regularly share pertinent information directly from the above agencies.
These simple steps can reduce the damage caused by flooding:
For most private properties, a full-scale flood plan isn’t usually necessary in the same way as it would be for a business with a large staff, but keeping a supply of door barriers and sandbags – or similar products, such as FloodSax – can nevertheless be a wise precaution for protecting entranceways. This is especially advisable for riverside property owners, who are generally responsible for managing their flood risks.
Insurance is also a big part of the preparation process, so homeowners must check what their policy covers in the event of flooding, especially if they live in a flood-risk area. This may mean clarifying any ambiguities with policy providers, which is more straightforward to do before the event than afterwards.
Flooding caused by plumbing issues is often avoidable with regular maintenance. Common plumbing issues include burst and frozen pipes, which can cause significant damage. To prevent these:
Burst pipes are one of the most common culprits when it comes to causing home floods, typically when water in the pipes freezes and expands, creating pressure from the inside and causing them to break.
Mitigating this risk means taking action to prepare pipes and drains for the onset of colder weather, with advisable precautions including:
Read our guide on preparing pipes and drains in winter for more information about organising and maintaining them during the winter months.
Blockages in pipes and plumbing are also common causes of flooding, despite this issue being much easier to prevent than weather problems or frozen pipes.
Generally, clogging issues are caused by many common substances and products – which we at Lanes refer to as the ‘Big Offenders’ – tipped into the sink or flushed down toilets.
The Big Offenders are:
Clogged drains are a significant cause of home flooding, often caused by grease, wet wipes, or sanitary products flushed down the toilet or poured down the sink.
Blocked drains may show signs like slow drainage, foul smells, or gurgling noises.
Prevent blockages by being mindful of what goes down your drains.
Regularly maintain your drainage system to identify issues before they become significant problems.
Despite all precautions, flooding can still occur. If flooding strikes, take immediate action to reduce damage:
After protecting your property, contact local authorities for help. If flooding is severe, your local fire and rescue service may be able to pump out the water.
At Lanes, we offer expert flood management services. Our fleet of advanced jetting and vacuumation tankers provides quick and effective cleanup.
We also help manage sewage contamination after a flood. Most importantly, we treat homeowners with care and empathy during these stressful times.
For more information about how flooding occurs and who is responsible, read our guide to surface water drainage and flooding.
Or for more information about our services call us on 0800 526 488.