How to Prevent Basement Flooding
If you experience water damage or flooding in your basement, then you know how stressful it can be to remedy it. However, with these flood prevention tips that will greatly reduce the chance of your basement flooding, you can relax and focus on enjoying the space with worry.
Keep Your Gutters and Downspouts Clean
Keeping your gutters and downspouts clear of debris is essential when maintaining your home. Keeping everything clean and pointed away from your house will prevent rainwater from pooling against your house. Downspouts should be pointed at least three feet away from the home’s foundation, usually through the use of an extension or troughs.
Landscape Your Yard Properly
The shape and location of your flower beds or the angle of your yard’s slope can contribute to any water damage in your basement. Areas that slope towards your house create a path for runoff water that leads directly to your house, pooling around and beneath your property.
Repair Any Foundation Cracks
Foundation cracks are an invitation for flooding in your basement. To prevent any water damage from occurring, inspect the exterior foundation, floors and basement walls regularly. Find any cracks? Then fill them with epoxy immediately. For major foundation damage, call in the professionals.
Properly Maintain Your Sump Pump
A sump pump failure is one of the most common causes of basement flooding. With regular maintenance, you can avoid mould, flooding and water damage from developing. Make sure your sump pump is plugged in and in working condition at all times, especially when a big storm is brewing. If your home has a tendency to lose power, then consider having a generator on hand just in case, as some home insurance plans don’t cover flood damage caused by a broken sump pump.
Clean the Septic Systems
Not having your sewer inspected or your septic tank cleaned will create havoc in your home through clogs, overflowing drains and sewer backup. A lack of maintenance will result in more problems then you could ever imagine.
Install Window Well Covers
It’s easy for water to seep into your basement when you have low-grade windows. To prevent this from causing damage, protect your windows with window well covers. This is an affordable option that’s fastened over your basement windows, latching onto your home’s foundation and effectively waterproofing the room.
Get Flood Insurance
If you have insurance that covers your basement, and the rest of your home in case of flooding, then you don’t have to worry as much about the aftermath of any flooding that may occur. However, without flood insurance, or if your home insurance policy doesn’t cover flood damage then following these prevention tips as well as creating a waterproof environment is more crucial than ever.
At Total Plumbing and Heating, we’ve been helping the community with all their plumbing and heating needs. Located in Edmonton, Alberta since 2003, we’ve helped residential or commercial clients with an array of plumbing services that include water heater installation, air conditioning, new construction plumbing furnace installation and more. Servicing Edmonton and Northern Alberta, give us a call to book an appointment and visit our website for more information.
