Quick answer: To get your home flood ready this winter, keep a puddle pump and the right hose fittings ready to go, fit anti-flood airbricks, protect your doorways with a proper flood barrier, and if water is a regular problem, look at a sump pump or a professional flood risk assessment.
Flood Action Week 2026 runs from 12 to 18 October. It is the Environment Agency's annual campaign to help people understand their flood risk and take action before the winter flood season arrives.
Around 6.3 million homes and businesses in England are in areas at risk of flooding. Winter 2025/26 brought 42% more rainfall than average, and a strong El Niño this year raises the odds of repeated storms and saturated ground. The cost of a flooded home can run into tens of thousands of pounds.
This guide is for homeowners, landlords and small businesses who want to act now. Here are our practical picks, from a simple pump in the cupboard to a full assessment of your property.
What is Flood Action Week?
Flood Action Week is run by the Environment Agency with national partners and communities. Its aim is simple: turn awareness into action before the wettest months of the year.
For 2026 the Environment Agency is launching Flood Action Online, a new one stop website on GOV.UK. It brings together flood risk checks, flood warnings and practical advice in one place.
Three things to do this week
- Check your long term flood risk for your postcode on GOV.UK.
- Sign up for free flood warnings by phone, text or email.
- Make a simple flood plan: where your pump, hose and barriers are kept, and who does what.
Then look at the equipment below. Buying it in the dry is far easier than trying to find it when a warning has already been issued.
Our pick 1: a puddle pump
A puddle pump is a small submersible pump designed to remove water right down to floor level. A standard submersible pump stops working with several centimetres of water left. A puddle pump can take it down to a few millimetres.
That matters in a flood. A few centimetres of standing water is still enough to ruin flooring, soak skirting and keep a dehumidifier running for weeks.
Puddle pumps suit cellars, basements, garages, utility rooms, flat roofs and the area behind a flood barrier.
Automatic or manual puddle pump?
This is the most common question we get. The answer depends on whether someone will be there when the water arrives.
An automatic puddle pump switches itself on when water reaches a set level and off again when it has been cleared. Use one where:
- Water comes in without warning, such as a cellar or basement with groundwater
- The property is empty for long periods, like a holiday let or a business over the weekend
- You want the pump left in place and on standby all winter
A manual puddle pump runs when you switch it on and keeps going until you switch it off. Use one where:
- You will be there to supervise, for example clearing up after a flood
- You want to remove water as close to the floor as possible, often down to 1 to 2mm
- The pump is kept in a cupboard and brought out when needed
The trade off is depth. An automatic pump has to leave a little water behind so it knows when to switch off. A manual pump can keep going until the floor is almost dry, but someone needs to stay with it so it does not run dry.
Many homes are best served by one of each, or by an automatic pump that can also be run manually during a clear up.
For most domestic cellars and garages, a compact automatic pump with a low level floor sensor is a sensible place to start.
If you would rather have a manual pump ready in a cupboard, this is our most popular budget option for shallow domestic water.
Larger properties, commercial premises and trade users will want something with more flow and head. You can compare the full range here.
Our pick 2: the accessories you will need
A pump on its own will not get water out of your property. These are the fittings that make the difference between a pump that works on the day and one that sits in a puddle.
Discharge hose: layflat or suction and delivery
There are two main types of hose for a puddle pump, and it is worth knowing the difference.
Layflat hose rolls flat for storage and opens up when the pump runs. It is light, compact and ideal for a pump kept in a cupboard for emergencies.
Suction and delivery hose is reinforced, so it holds its shape. It will not kink or flatten on tight bends, over steps or when someone stands on it. That makes it the better choice for a pump left in place on standby, or for lifting water up and out of a cellar. It can also be used on the suction side of a surface pump, where layflat would collapse.
Whichever you choose, match the hose to the pump outlet, usually 25mm or 32mm on a puddle pump, and buy enough to reach a drain well away from the building. A wider hose means less friction and more flow, so avoid dropping down to a garden hose unless the run is very short.
For a pump that lives in a cupboard until it is needed, layflat is the easiest to store.
For an automatic pump that stays in place all winter, reinforced hose is the more reliable option.
Hose clips
A hose clip, or jubilee clip, holds the hose securely on the hose tail. Without one, the hose can blow off under pressure and send water straight back where it came from. They cost very little and are worth keeping a few spare.
Non-return valve (NRV)
When the pump stops, the water left in the hose runs back down towards it. On an automatic pump this can switch the pump straight back on, causing constant stop start cycling.
A non-return valve lets water flow out but not back. We strongly recommend one wherever you are lifting water upwards, for example out of a cellar or sump.
Elbow hose tail
An elbow hose tail lets the hose leave the pump at 90 degrees. This stops the hose kinking at the outlet, which can cut flow dramatically, and is useful in tight sumps and corners.
If you would rather not work out every fitting yourself, our pump kits include the pump, hose, non-return valve and fittings in one box.
Our pick 3: a sump pump for repeat water problems
If water comes into a basement or cellar every winter, a pump on the floor is a short term fix. A sump pump sits in a pit at the lowest point of the floor, so water drains to it and is pumped out automatically before it spreads.
Sump pumps are the right choice where:
- Groundwater rises through the floor during wet months
- The basement has a waterproofing membrane or cavity drainage system
- You need reliable, permanent protection rather than a pump you set up each time
For a permanent installation, think about a high water alarm and battery back-up. Power cuts are common in storms, which is exactly when the pump is needed most.
Sizing a sump system depends on how much water comes in and how far it needs lifting, so it is worth getting a second opinion before you buy.
Our pick 4: anti-flood airbricks
Airbricks are one of the most overlooked ways water gets into a home. They sit low on the outside wall to ventilate the floor void, which puts them right in the path of floodwater. One unprotected airbrick can let in hundreds of litres of water a minute.
An anti-flood airbrick looks and ventilates like a normal airbrick. Inside, a float valve rises with floodwater and seals the opening automatically, then drops again as the water goes down. There is no power and nothing to remember to fit.
The SMART AirBrick we supply is Kitemarked to PAS 1188 and replaces a standard 225 x 75mm clay airbrick.
Our pick 5: flood barriers for doors and openings
Doorways are usually the first place floodwater gets in. A proper flood barrier holds it back far better and far faster than sandbags, which seep even when they are well stacked.
Our sister company, Flood Protection Solutions, supplies flood barriers for homes and businesses across the UK, including:
- FPS Barrier®, made to measure aluminium barriers for doors, patio doors, garages and gates
- Nautilus stackable aluminium barriers, as an authorised distributor
- Water-Gate self-deploying barriers for larger areas and temporary protection
Visit floodprotectionsolutions.co.uk to request a quote. All you need to start is the width of the opening and a couple of photos.
Remember that no barrier is completely watertight, and water can also come up through floors and walls. Keep a puddle pump behind the barrier to deal with whatever gets through.
For more complex problems: a flood risk assessment
Some flood problems cannot be solved with a product off the shelf. If your property floods repeatedly, sits near a river or on a flood plain, or you are not sure where the water is coming from, a professional assessment is the best first step.
FPS Environmental, part of the same group, provides flood risk assessments and drainage advice for homeowners, developers and local authorities. An assessment looks at where the risk comes from, whether river, surface water, groundwater or drainage, and recommends the right mix of measures for your property.
It is also the right route if you are planning an extension or new build in a flood risk area, where a flood risk assessment is often needed for planning. Visit fpsenvironmental.co.uk to get in touch.
Common mistakes to avoid this winter
- Waiting for a flood warning before buying. Pumps, hose and barriers sell out fast once warnings are issued.
- Buying a pump with no hose or fittings. Check the outlet size and order the hose, clips and valve at the same time.
- Choosing an automatic pump and then leaving it untested. Test it with clean water before winter.
- Running the discharge hose next to the house. Take it far enough away, and downhill, so the water does not come straight back.
- Protecting the front door and forgetting the airbricks.
The bottom line
Flood Action Week is the reminder to act while it is still dry. Start with the basics: know your risk, sign up for warnings and have a puddle pump with the right hose and fittings ready.
Then build up your protection with anti-flood airbricks, a proper door barrier and, for repeat problems, a sump pump or a professional flood risk assessment. Every step you take now makes a flood easier to deal with later.
