THERE is a simple way of stopping or reducing the level of flood water in or entering your home, through your doorway and into your rooms.

Fit a submersible water pump with a float switch under the floor, with a driveway type drainage channel and grating just behind the door.

When any water gets past the door or barricade, it runs into the channel and into the pump box and is automatically pumped out through a pipe to discharge outside.

I have fitted 12 pumps to one of the two properties I look after and these have been tested on numerous occasions and work perfectly, so the property only has damp carpets with a water level of 15 ins outside, but could cope with levels up to two feet higher.

You need a barricade outside, for example storm guard' barrier (as seen in Jewsons display area), or thick ply and sandbags.

I use a Draper Submersible water pump ref 35466 with a float switch, which pumps out 250 litres per minute. These cost about £100 plus vat from a local tool hire company.

This pump sits under your concrete floor (if it is wood floor or concrete beam and block type, you need expert advice) in a box constructed of concrete approximately 12"x18" and about two feet deep under the bottom of the floor slab, with a black plastic 12"x12" screw down access cover. A three and a half diameter diaduct connects this to the black plastic or metal channel grating set, into the floor (all stock items from any builder's merchants).

The outlet pipe from the pump is a standard waste pipe taken up the inside of the wall and through the wall about three feet above the floor to discharge outside. It needs a electrical socket near by and cable duct through a concrete floor.

The multiple pump system, like the one I have installed, could benefit any large property.

The pump costs approximately £100 plus vat, additional materials will cost about £100-£150.

I hope this will help some people affected by the floods and to let them know that there is help out there, however a qualified builder must undertake this work.

D R EMMETT, Hereford.