Flooding has proven to be common in many areas of the United States, and cars suffer immensely as a result. Those without a garage or driveway to safely park their cars in find their vehicles at risk for exposure to water and subsequent corrosion. To your car from being ruined in a flood, a combination of effective preventive and follow-up steps are suggested.
Preventive Care
Taking many steps in advance could curtail dire problems associated with flooding. Preventive measures are not always perfect, but they are better than doing nothing.
- Park on Reliably Higher Ground
Parking a car on higher ground is a common bit of good advice, but people make too many assumptions about what constitutes safe higher ground. First, find out how much rainfall is expected and determine if the higher ground area truly is high enough to handle the expected flood levels. A little internet research could help with this task.
- Find a Multilevel Indoor Parking Lot
Lack of access to higher ground may require seeking out multilevel commercial lots. Parking a car on the second floor or higher keeps the vehicle far from water exposure. Yes, there are costs and inconveniences involved with parking a car at a private garage. However, the costs and hassles are going to be far less than repairing extensive damage to the brakes, transmission, and potentially more parts.
- Invest in a Ramp
Those who cannot move their car to a lot or higher ground should seriously consider buying a car ramp. Driving the car up on a ramp and temporarily elevating it above the ground reduces the exposure of the car to flooding. Granted, if the water rises two feet and the vehicle is only 18 inches off the ground, there is going to be some exposure. The amount of the exposure, however, is less than what would be the case if the auto were parked at ground level. A local auto service could assist with matching the right car with the right ramp.
Post-Flood Care
Never make any assumptions about how safe or protected a car is against flood waters. Performing a visual inspection of the exterior for rust is not enough. The car should be checked out at a local garage. In particular, the brakes should be examined since they are quite commonly adversely impacted by flood water. One benefit of a brake inspection is that the vehicle is raised up into the air, which exposes the undercarriage. Additional problems can easily be detected here and fixed without any unnecessary delays.
Share