How to Keep Your Home Flood-Free in the Philippines

Practical Tips to Maintain a Flood-Free Home: Guide for Filipino Homeowners

Rainy season or not, it’s important to ensure your home is flood-resistant as it poses risks to health and safety. With the increasing frequency of typhoons hitting the country every year, being prepared will keep you and your loved ones safe and sound. So let’s enumerate all the best tips on how to make your home flood-proof in the Philippines.

​Check Geohazard Conditions Before Buying a Property

First things first, the number one tip to avoid the risk of flooding is to acquire a property in a safer zone. You can use geohazard maps to check whether a specific area is disaster-prone or not. Visit the site and observe the surroundings or ask the locals about the issues in the area. It’s also important to check the elevation, as higher elevations can effectively reduce the chances of flooding. Don’t buy properties from catch-basin areas as they are more at risk of flooding.

​Ways to Keep Your Home Flood-Free

Given your property is in a higher elevation or flood-free area, the next thing to check is the structural integrity of your house. Here are the most practical ways to ensure your home is safe from floods during typhoons and heavy rains:

• Use flood-resistant materials when building your home, including steel hardware, marine-grade plywood, glazed brick, polyester epoxy paint, ceramic tile, and concrete. These can resist floodwater contact and minimize damage compared to light materials.
      
  
• Consider waterproofing your outer walls, doorways, and windows. Always check your waterproof veneer, sealants, and coatings to prevent water from seeping through your home’s interior.
      
  
• Check your drainage system and gutter. Stop any incoming floodwaters by keeping your drainage unclogged. Also, make sure to regularly clean your gutter as leaves and other debris can clog and disrupt water flow in your home. Use gate valves to better seal sewage systems during floods.
  

Important Things to Do After Flooding

After a flood, assess your home for any possible damage to the structure, including foundation cracks and roof damage. Avoid touching power lines just to make sure, or don’t step in puddles near electrical outlets to avoid electrocution. Before plugging any devices or appliances, make sure the outlets are completely dry.
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Don’t switch on the power source yet if you haven’t checked the electrical wiring around the house. Keep children away from any source of power, including devices submerged in floodwater. Wash mattresses and upholstered furniture to remove bacteria and other contaminants from floodwaters. Put them under the sun to completely dry and disinfect them before using again.

Final Thoughts

So now you are aware of how to keep your home in the Philippines safe from floods with a few simple hacks. Make sure to do regular checks on your roofing, walls, windows, and doorways to avoid leaks and other related issues. If you are looking for your next real estate investment, we have condos in Baguio City that you can check out on our REALS.PH website. You can also list a property on the site so our real estate agents can help you sell it online.