⚡ Quick picks
✅ Do these first: they’re free
- Check your long-term flood risk on GOV.UK.
- Sign up for free flood warnings by phone, text or email (England). Floodline: 0345 988 1188.
- Make a flood plan: where the stopcock, gas valve and fuse box are, and what you'd move upstairs.
- Never walk or drive through flood water. 30cm of moving water can float a car.
- Don't touch electrics if water has got in. Call an electrician.
Compare our picks
Swipe the table sideways →
| Pick | Best for | Key spec | Main downside | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quick Dam QD65-1 flood bags (sandless sandbags), 5ft | Doorways and gaps | 5ft bags | One-use once swollen | Check price on AmazonAd |
| Flood Sock absorbent flood barrier, 1.5m | Small leaks and seepage | 1.5m | Small volumes only | Check price on AmazonAd |
| Manthorpe air brick cover | Air bricks | Air brick cover | Must be removed after the flood to restore ventilation | Check price on AmazonAd |
| AquaDefender flood door barrier (premium option) | Premium: high-risk homes | Door barrier | Expensive | Check price on AmazonAd |
| Trespass 20L dry bag (grab bag for documents) | Documents and grab bag | 20L | Not a rucksack, so it's awkward to carry far | Check price on AmazonAd |
| Kärcher WD 3 wet & dry vacuum (clean-up) | Clean-up after water | Wet & dry vac | Only use once electrics have been checked as safe | Check price on AmazonAd |
| Kärcher SP 11.000 submersible pump | Pumping out standing water | Submersible pump | Electrical: use with an RCD and never stand in water with live cables | Check price on AmazonAd |
We don't show prices because they change daily. Tap “Check price” for today's price on Amazon.
Coming soonWhat To Do If Your Home Is About To Flood (UK)
The video that goes with this guide, from the Mains & Drains channel.
▶ Subscribe so you don't miss itSlow the water down
Flood products buy time; they don't make a house waterproof. Doors and air bricks are the usual entry points.
Quick Dam QD65-1 flood bags (sandless sandbags), 5ft
Sandless bags that swell when wet. They're easier to store than sandbags.
- No sand needed
- Light to store
- One-use once swollen
- They only slow water; they don't seal a door
Flood Sock absorbent flood barrier, 1.5m
An absorbent sausage barrier for door thresholds and small seepage.
- Easy to place
- Stores flat
- Small volumes only
Manthorpe air brick cover
Air bricks let flood water straight into the underfloor space. A cover blocks them during a warning.
- Simple fit
- Cheap
- Must be removed after the flood to restore ventilation
AquaDefender flood door barrier (premium option)
A proper door barrier for homes with a real, recurring flood risk. It's a big spend, so check your risk first.
- Purpose-built door barrier
- Reusable
- Expensive
- Measure your door opening carefully
Grab bag and light
If you're told to leave, you leave. Have documents, medicines and chargers in one dry bag.
Trespass 20L dry bag (grab bag for documents)
Keeps passports, insurance papers and chargers dry if you have to leave.
- Waterproof roll-top
- Cheap
- Not a rucksack, so it's awkward to carry far
Wind-up / solar FM radio with torch and USB
A hand crank and a small solar panel keep it going after batteries and power banks run flat, and FM picks up local radio updates during a wide-area cut.
- No batteries needed
- Doubles as a torch
- USB output for an emergency phone top-up
- Cranking gives a little power for a lot of effort
- Small speaker, so it's fine for news but not for music
Blukar rechargeable head torch, 2-pack
When you're cooking, carrying a child on the stairs or checking the consumer unit, you need both hands.
- Hands-free light
- Rechargeable
- Two in the pack
- Needs charging before a cut
- A spot light, not a room light
EverBrite 6-pack mini LED torches (batteries included)
Six small torches mean one in every room and a spare by the fuse box, so nobody fumbles in the dark.
- Six torches for one price
- Batteries included
- Small enough for a kitchen drawer
- Small beam, not a floodlight
- Uses disposable batteries
After the flood
Only once it's safe and the electrics have been checked.
Kärcher WD 3 wet & dry vacuum (clean-up)
Sucks up standing water and debris once the flood has passed and the power is safe.
- Wet and dry use
- Well-known brand
- Only use once electrics have been checked as safe
- Not a pump for deep water
Kärcher SP 11.000 submersible pump
For pumping standing water out of a cellar or yard. Use it with an RCD.
- Moves a lot of water
- Well-known brand
- Electrical: use with an RCD and never stand in water with live cables
- Pumping a basement out too quickly can damage walls, so take advice
📄 Print it, stick it on the fridge
3-Day Emergency Plan (£7): written for UK homes, instant A4 download.
Questions people ask
Do sandless flood bags work?
They swell to slow water at doorways and gaps. They don't seal a door, and they're single-use once swollen.
Should I buy a door barrier?
Only if your home has a real, recurring risk. Check your long-term flood risk first. It's a big spend.
Why you can trust this guide
We haven’t lab-tested these products, and we won’t pretend we have. Every pick is researched and recommended: we compare specs, UK safety standards, warranties, official guidance and patterns in owner reviews, and we write down the real downsides. No brand paid to be here. Read how we choose.
Official advice and sources: GOV.UK: check long-term flood risk · GOV.UK: sign up for flood warnings · Be Ready (UK Government)
Related guides
The best power cut kit for UK homes
What you actually need for a UK power cut: torches, a lantern, a wind-up radio, power banks and backup power, with honest pros and cons and a free checklist.
Read the guide →
Home safety essentials every UK home needs
Carbon monoxide and smoke alarms, a fire blanket, a socket tester and the tools for a burst pipe. Researched picks with honest pros and cons.
Read the guide →
Damp and condensation: what actually works
Wet windows and black mould? The free fixes first, then the right size of moisture absorber or dehumidifier for the room, with honest pros and cons.
Read the guide →