QUIK-RESPONSE™ SELF-EXPANDING SANDBAGS

Looking to purchase sandbags to prevent flooding and to protect your property? 

There are many types and kinds of sandbags, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Some sandbags have shorter longevity (lifespan) than others, and some are used for indoor or outdoor purposes. 

In this article, we focus on emergency sandbag use and how each different sandbag type compares.

Woven Polypropylene

Woven Polypropylene is a surprisingly light-weight yet strong material. These durable, circular, woven polypropylene bags are UV stabilized, weaved, and sewn tightly.

Because polypropylene is made of tightly woven fabric, it prevents sifting which keeps the sand inside the bag. Also, they are puncture resistant.

They provide an economical solution for flood mitigation and erosion control. However, they are not biodegradable and therefore must be disposed of properly.

Polypopylene is most often used for commercial purposes such as highway barriers, including many other traffic and construction applications.

In stores, they are sold in bales of 1000, weighing around 40 pounds when filled with sand and can hold up to 50 pounds of water.

Nylon

If you are looking for a strong, durable sandbag material, look into Nylon.

Nylon sandbags are made of urethane. Urethane makes nylon sandbags highly efficient for water repellent and dust control. It also has double stitched seams which contribute to its durability. 

Although they are not as robust as polypropylene sandbags, nylon sandbags have a puncture strength of up to 1200 p.s.i. and can also hold up to 50 pounds in capacity.

Its extreme water repellent capability makes it a great choice for indoor flood control use.

Burlap/ Jute

Burlap/ Jute bags are often the most commonly used sandbags since they are easily accessible and low in cost.

Burlap/ Jute bags are organic, eco-friendly, and 100% biodegradable sandbags. Its stitching and ties make them extremely durable and strong.

This material also lasts through strenuous weather conditions exceptionally well and is able to absorb water and allow airflow at the same time.

Jute is often a go-to choice for outdoor flood protection, such as traffic control, local roads, and the garage of homes.

If burlap/ jute sandbags are properly stored, they can be used several years later.

Burlap/ jute sandbags are also able to hold up to 50 pounds of water and form an ideal water dam.

High- Density Polyethylene (HDP)

Sandbags made of high- density polyethylene are very long-lasting. High- density polyethylene plastic is extremely strong allowing it to retain a lot of liquid without distorting its original shape.

They are also weather resistant and capable of carrying extreme weight while remaining flexible.

The heavy- duty material also allows the sandbags to be UV protected enabling the sandbags to last 1-2 years compared to traditional sandbags where they only last up to 6 months.

High-density Polyethylene sandbags can hold up to 70 pounds of water and are mainly used for erosion and flood control.

Sandbags come in so many different forms and sizes. Depending on your situation, you can choose one type of sandbag over another.

It is important to also know how to correctly use, store, and dispose sandbags. This enables you to be able to use the sandbags to its full capability. And most importantly, to divert water from your property to avoid costly damages.

Using sandbags is just one part of the flood prevention process. To learn more about how to properly prepare for a flood, check out our helpful flood safety guide.

"Is it necessary to pre-activate my Quik-Response Self-Expanding Sandbags or can I use the floodwater?"

It's one the of the most common questions we receive. 

The answer?

It depends.

In most cases, we certainly recommend that you pre-activate your Quik-response Self-Expanding Sandbags.

Why?

A flood barrier is only effective if it is set up BEFORE the flooding occurs. 

Remember, the whole purpose of building a flood protection dike is to divert water away from your property, so it makes sense to have the barrier setup beforehand. 

If left un-activated, there is no guarantee that the floodwater won't simply carry-away the un-activated units. It's not certain that this would happen, but why even risk the water damages to your home?

If you don't have time to fully activate your units, you can also partially activate Quik-Response. 

This takes anywhere from 30 seconds to 1 minute and will allow Quik-Response to gain enough mass so that it wont be swept away by the flood current. 

Then, the bags will continue to grow as they are subjected to more and more floodwater. This can be especially convenient in flash flood scenarios and other instances where time is of the essence. 

One thing to consider when partially-activating your Quik-response units is to consider the magnitude of the impending flood. 

Always activate Quik-Response to a mass large enough that they wont be swept away by the floodwater. 

Instances when pre-activation is not necessary: 

In some flood situations, such as internal basement flooding, you can use un-activated Quik-Response bags to absorb water. 

You can also place un-activated units under pipes to act as an absorbent mat should any leakage occur.

These instances aside, we recommend that you always activate (or at least partially-activate) your Quik-Response Self-Expanding Sandbags. 

Remember, QUIK-RESPONSE is activated by the presence of water. 

Pre-activate your units in the following ways:

Submerge bags in water for 3-5 minutes. (Recommended)

Flooding often occurs near rivers, lakes & coasts.

You can use this water to pre-activate your Quik-Response units. 

If at home, use a Tupperware tote or any other basin filled with a few gallons of water. 

Hose down bags until fully expanded

Most of us have a hose or water spout located outside of our homes. Hosing down Quik-Response takes a little longer than the submersing the bags, but it is one of the most convenient methods . 

Simply turn on your hose and evenly wet each unit of Quik-Response until complete activation is achieved. 

If a sufficient amount is available, use on-site floodwater to activate bags

As mentioned before, if using this method, be sure that there is a sufficient amount of water present for the bags to activate and the flood current isn't strong enough to carry away the un-activated units. 

Remember, proactive preparations is key for successully protecting a proeprty from flooding.

Likewise, a flood barrier is only effective if it is built in-place BEFORE the flooding occurs.

Follow the above steps and pre-activate your Quik-Response sandless sandbags!

What is a sump pump?

A sump pump protects your home from flooding resulting from heavy rains, rising waters, overland flooding, and even internal flooding sources - leaking/burst pipes, a catastrophic washing machine failure, or a drainage backup that leaves behind enormous repair costs and structural damages. It's important to know which of the different types of sumps pumps best fits your needs. 

How does a sump pump work?

Sump pumps move water from your basement out of your home. A sump is a naturally constructed pit, typically a hole carved below the main surface of your basement floor. This pit holds the pump. The pump is equipped with valves that sense rising water levels or pressure. When the water gets too high, sump pumps automatically pump excess water out of the basement and away from your property using a discharge line. This line connects the sump pump to a designated drainage area located far away from the building. 

Where should a sump pump drain to?

Sump pump water discharges to a designated area, such as a dry well, a creek or pond, or even a neighbourhood drain. Be careful not to set your drain point somewhere that water will return to your home. Ideally, keep the pump 10 to 20 feet away from the foundation. Some cities have building codes that determine where your sump pump can drain, so it is always best to check. 

Submersible sump pumps

Submersible pumps contain the pump and motor in one unit. They sit submerged and closed inside a basin in your basement. Because submersible pumps are completely submerged in the water basin, they are often quieter, save space in your basement, and clog less than a pedestal. 

Pedestal sump pumps

Unlike a submersible sump pump, a pedestal sump pump consists of a separate motor and pump. The motor sits on a pedestal above the basin, with a hose running to the hole where the pump is placed. Because the motor is not submerged, it often has a higher lifespan than other sump pumps and can be accessed easier for maintenance issues. However, it also means it can be louder and take up more space than the submersible pump.

Battery-operated backup

A battery backup pump is a great way to provide some extra security from flood damage. A battery backup with a float switch allows your sump pump to operate even when your power is out during a storm when you need it the most. If your power goes out during a storm, your sump pump will also lose power. If you live in an area where you lose power frequently, a battery backup is a good idea.

 Selecting the right sump pump is very important for the safety of your home. Choose a pump with enough horsepower to handle your level of flooding. If you select a sump pump with a lower horsepower than necessary for the amount of flooding in your area, you're still at risk for flooding. At the same time, a higher horsepower than necessary will cause cycling, turning on and off repeatedly, which lowers the lifespan of the pump.

 While many preventative measure are possible to take care of or install on your own, some waterproofing jobs, like installing weeping tile, are very labour-intensive and may require the expertise a professional waterproofing company can provide. Below is a guide explaining everything you need to know about weeping tile - weeping tile is great way to prevent gradual flooding in your home. 

What is weeping tile?

It’s nothing fancy, but it sure is effective! Weeping tiles are porous pipes used to divert underground water. Originally, terracotta tiles were used, but modern products are plastic pipes with weep holes or small slits designed to redirect water away from the home. These pipes are installed near the foundation of the home. If you don’t already have weeping tile, installation will require digging up the ground near your home to install.

If your building gets water in the basement annually (often the spring thaw can result in minor flooding) or you are at a low elevation relative to your surroundings, you may want to consider having weeping tile installed.