Environment Agency - Home

Ways to try to keep flood water out of your property

It's impossible to completely flood-proof a property but there are lots of things you can do to try to prevent flood water entering your home or business.

Flood proection equipment can help stop flood water getting into your property.

Where can floodwater enter my property?

Floodwater can find its way into properties through a variety of routes including:

  • around closed doorways;
  • through airbricks and up through the ground floor;
  • backflow through sewerage pipes with water discharging through ground floor toilets and sinks;
  • seepage through external walls and through cable holes.

The most important thing is to prepare now by buying and installing flood products in advance.  Don't wait until flooding looks likely as you won't have time to buy or put the measures in place.

Ways to keep flood water out of your property

  • Doors and windows - buy purpose-built flood boards for external doors and windows that can be installed when flooding is expected.   Raising door thresholds can also be effective at keeping out water from shallow flooding.
  • Air bricks - buy specially designed covers that can be easily fitted over ventilation bricks when flooding is expected or, better still, some can be fitted and left in place to operate automatically.
  • Drains and pipes - fit non-return valves to drains and water inlet and outlet pipes.  This will prevent waste water from flowing into the property during a flood.
  • Floors - raise damp-proof brick courses, seal floors (tanking) or replace wooden floorboards with concrete to help delay flood water rising up from the ground.
  • Barriers - free-standing flood barriers can help keep water out of your property, but bear in mind that water could still get in through the drainage system.  Also, if your property is one of several at risk of flooding discuss building a single barrier around all of them with your neighbours.  It will help spread the cost as well as the benefits.  (Please contact your local Environment Agency office before sourcing barriers as our permission may be required.  Call us on 0370 8506506 and ask to speak to someone in the Development Control team in your local office.)
  • Landscaping - re-landscape garden areas and driveways so they act to divert water away from your property in the event of a flood.
  • Sandbags - traditionally people have used sandbags to build barriers directly attached to buildings, but sandbags can be difficult to get hold of in an emergency and specially designed products such as those listed above are better ways of sealing entrances. However, if sandbags are your chosen option you can download a leaflet about how best to use them here or call Floodline on 0845 988 1188  to request a hard copy.
  • Pumping - If your property is in an area that is affected by flooding from groundwater you may need to consider pumping water to protect your property. this is because water can come up through the floor and remain high for a long time and so many traditional methods of flood protection, such as sandbags and barriers may not be effective.

Always remove flood protection equipment once the flood water has gone. This will help your property dry out.

Do you need help or support to undertake these flood actions?

Some people may need help or support to prepare for flooding.  As part of your flood planning we recommend you think about who you can ask for assistance before, during and after a flood.  

You could also consider contacting your local authority, as  many of them keep lists of vulnerable people who might need extra support in a flood or emergency situation. 

If the Floodline Warnings Direct service is available in your area, we can arrange for any flood warnings for your property to also be delivered to a relative or friend, so that they are aware you may be in need of assistance.  You can set this up by phoning Floodline on 0845 988 1188.