There is often a fatalistic feeling among those who live in flood-prone regions that the only thing that can be done to protect their home is to purchase comprehensive flood insurance. It's true that, at times, Mother Nature simply cannot be stopped. Yet that doesn't mean there aren't steps you can take to protect yourself against flooding. This article will present three key strategies to mitigate the damage--and thus the repair costs--associated with a flooded house.

Have a sump pump installed in the basement.

Sump pumps perform one simple but indispensable task: removing excess water from your property before it reaches flood levels. In order to accomplish this task, a so-called sump pit must be dug in your basement floor. When water levels around your home start to rise, the sump pit will be the first thing to fill. This triggers the pump to come on, thus diverting the unwanted water a safe distance away.

Sump pumps come in two main types. Pedestal pumps are designed to sit on the basement floor, whereas submersible pumps are located within the sump pit itself. Because they don't have to be designed with waterproof features, pedestal pumps are the less expensive of the two. They do, however, take up more space on the floor of your basement.

Where pumping power is concerned, submersible pumps take home first prize. That's because, being located inside of the pit, they don't have the added task of sucking water up into the pump. Their watery home does make them more prone to mechanical troubles, however. This means that they often carry a higher maintenance cost as time goes on.

Keep basement appliances off of the floor.

Even a sump pump may not be enough to protect you from a flood of truly epic proportions. To protect yourself against such a disaster, it's a good idea to keep your major appliances raised up above floor level. An economical way to accomplish this is to place cinder blocks beneath such appliances as water heaters, furnaces, washers and dryers. Those who prefer a more permanent solution may opt to install cement pedestals for the appliances to sit on.

Install automatic shutoff valves on your washing machine.

Mother Nature isn't the only cause of home flooding. Many people are surprised to learn that washing machines are the culprits behind a large percentage of such floods. The reason for this is that the water supply valves that lead to your washer are always in the "on" position. Thus, if one of the supply hoses happens to come loose, or spring a leak, water will begin pouring onto the floor unimpeded.

Prevent this disaster from ever happening by installing automatic shutoff valves. When the washer isn't being used, such valves close off the water supply. When you turn the machine on, they open back up. Keeping your home safe from flooding doesn't get much easier than that! To learn more, contact a company like Servpro Of Washington County.