Protecting your home from water and other hazards

Buying a new home can be an overwhelming process, and surprises come with the territory.

When Consumer Reports’ Paul Hope’s basement flooded last fall, he was shocked. As one of CR’s home and garden experts, he already had a sump pump installed and ready to go.

As he explained, “We knew our basement was prone to flooding, and we thought we had done what we needed to do by having a sump pump in the first place. Unfortunately, it failed while we were away. But the good news is that because we had a sump pump in our basement, we actually had a policy that covered the damage to our basement!”

Now, Hope tells all new homeowners to look for a sump pump with a battery backup for when the electricity goes out—but the rain doesn’t.

Even without a flood, you want to keep your home free from any water damage. That’s where newer technology can give you a critical heads-up. A leak detector system will alert you to any leaks in your home, and that could save you thousands on potential repairs. To monitor a handful of trouble spots in your home, consider this X-Sense Wi-Fi Water Leak Detector SWS54 for $50, which offers a hub with a siren and three wireless sensors you can place throughout your home.

Even if there’s not a leak, excess humidity can often creep into your home, and you’ll want a way to reduce it. Dehumidifiers are a great idea anywhere you have excess humidity, particularly damp basements. The Midea MAD50C1ZWS for $260 is a large capacity dehumidifier and earns top scores from CR for water removal and very good energy efficiency.

Another CR tip—an inexpensive humidistat can help you keep tabs on your home’s humidity levels.

Don’t forget those must-have tool box essentials like a hammer, screwdriver, drill and flashlights with fresh batteries. Some of the most important tools to have around the house are obviously regular essentials like a hammer and screwdriver, but you also want to have a drill, flashlights pretty much everywhere and batteries to power anything you might need.

Finally, now that you’ve got that new home, you’ll want to keep it secure. The SimpliSafe The Essentials SS3-01 System for $220 earned top scores in CR’s tests and offers self or professional monitoring plans.

When it comes to home safety, don’t forget about fire extinguishers and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.