Last week we featured some interesting ideas that Frank Ryan from Fedamore, Co Limerick, shared with us. The ideas included a piston pump and a rainwater harvesting windscreen wash tank for your car. This week we feature Frank’s idea on how to prevent flood waters completely devastating your home. He believes if houses are very prone to flooding, they can reduce the chances of significant damage again by implementing the following steps.

Flood prevention

After last year’s floods, many homes suffered significant water damage. Frank says many of these houses will likely suffer from water damage in the future unless significant flood prevention and drainage work is carried out.

In the meantime, Frank has this advice people with houses prone to flooding could implement to prevent damage in the future. The main way water enters your house is through the doorways and domestic drains. Frank says if you can prevent water coming in from those points you will prevent 90% of damage.

Sealing drains

To prevent water coming up your toilet during heavy floods Frank created a lid to fit on top of the toilet. A bar underneath this lid locks under the toilet rim keeping it in place. An air tube fitted around the edges of the lid is then pumped with air sealing any possible crevice where water may leak.

Frank says farmers can also put an air tube down the drainage pipes to prevent flood water backing up the system. By connecting a bicycle pump to a valve on the air tube, the pipe can be sealed.

For doorways Frank made a frame to place in front of the doorway. The frame has runner bolts that can be drilled into the wall. Once the door is secured to the wall, a tube surrounding the frame can be pumped with air. Again this system will prevent any water coming in the door of your house.

Sump

According to Frank a certain amount of water will seep through the walls of the house. To deal with seepage he says the bottom floor should be tiled. By getting the floor laser levelled you will be able to find the lowest point in the house and dig out a sump.

This sump can be covered and tiled over without anyone noticing its presence and easily taken up again when needed. By having a sump, water lying on the floor can be brushed into the sump and pumped out. Oftentimes people with flooded homes say they find it very difficult to get the last bit of water out of their homes.

Frank will be in the Innovation Arena at the National Ploughing Championships and can be contacted on 0872574239.