What to do in a Flood at Home

According to Reach and Rescue, around 5 million people live in flood risk areas in England and Wales, and only 41% of people eligible for free flood warnings are actually registered to receive them?

It’s important to know what to do in a flood at home, particularly in you live in a high flood risk area.

What to do in a flood at home?

The first thing to do once you’ve experienced a flood at home is to seek professional assistance and contain the water, if possible.

Turn off the stopcock

The stopcock is the connector between pipes which, when turned off, blocks the flow of water.

A stopcock is typically located within the property; however, some properties might have more than one stopcock and they could be both inside and outside the property.

Outdoor stopcocks are typically situated beyond the boundary of your property, either on the street or in front or back gardens.

Interior stopcocks are typically located beneath kitchen or bathroom sinks, under staircases, in basements or in utility rooms.

If you are located in an apartment and are unable to identify the stopcock in any of the usual areas, it’s possible that it may be located in a cupboard within the shared hallway.

Maintaining and testing stopcocks is essential to prevent them from becoming stuck if left untouched for a prolonged duration. It is essential to keep valves relatively loose so they can be shut off quickly in the event of a flood or leak. If they do become stuck, WD40 can be used to help loosen them.