As London and other major cities across the UK brace for more extreme weather, installers are being urged to take proactive steps to protect vulnerable properties from flash flooding.
The callout comes from Wilo, the efficiency-first pump manufacturer, following a warning from the Mayor of London that 50,000 basement properties in London are at risk of being overwhelmed by stormwater and sewage by sudden torrential rain.
To avoid a scenario similar to July 2021, where severe flooding left some people in London homeless and properties severely damaged, installers should be actively helping their clients prepare for storms and downpours. Solutions like high capacity sump pumps are one of the ways of to safeguard properties, says Andy Thompson, National Sales Manager at Wilo.
Andy Thompson, National Sales Manager at Wilo
“Climate change has altered microclimates and ecosystems in the UK, with long dry periods followed by heavy rainstorms seemingly the weather pattern we all need to get used to,” says Andy. “Flash flooding is therefore becoming a bigger issue, especially in major cities, and one that installers should be educating their customers about.
“One way of increasing flooding resilience is to fit high-capacity, reliable sump pumps in basements. These can go some way to mitigating flooding, but they have to be specified, installed and maintained properly for them to work when needed.”
London City Hall is already distributing leaflets across the capital to properties at risk of flooding and telling residents about how to prepare for the eventuality. Andy recommends that installers go one step further by following a three-step process to raise awareness and encourage action:
- Audit customers and at-risk properties
- Contact customers to recommend sump pumps be installed if properties don’t already have one in place, or be upgraded if necessary
- Speak to reputable sump pump manufacturers about sump pump requirements to ensure the correct products are chosen
Importantly, installers are advised to use pumps that are ‘continuously rated’, are designed to handle solids and fine particles, and are automated, like the Wilo-TMW Drain 32. Wilo’s popular sump pump is fitted with a float switch, meaning it turns on automatically when required, while its motor is self-cooling so that it can run for as long as needed.
“Installers are the unsung heroes in many ways, and they’re often the ones we call upon when something goes wrong. We can flip this, and we urge installers to be the ones calling on their customers, talking to them about the very real possibilities of flash flooding, and how by simply putting in a sump pump, the issue could well be avoided. By specifying and installing the right sump pump, they’re not just protecting properties, they’re protecting peoples’ livelihoods,” says Andy.
Visit Wilo’s website and sump pumps and flood control solutions for further information.
