Spring rains are here!

4/17/2019 (Permalink)

Flooded basement!

Spring is officially here in the Northeast and with it comes the big melt!

If you want to avoid a flood in your basement or cellar follow these helpful tips:

To prevent water from leaking through your foundation, look to gutters for your first line of defense.

While gutter-and-downspout systems protect your house from rainwater and snow melt, they can also compound drainage problems by concentrating roof runoff at a house's corners close to the foundation.

To carry water away, attach a sloped leader to each gutter and guide water at least 10 feet from the foundation.

Downspouts can also be directed to dump directly into an above or under ground catch basin which will redistribute the water slowly back into the ground via small holes drilled throughout the basin.

Plug gaps and holes in basement.

If you see water dribbling into the basement through cracks or gaps around plumbing pipes, you can plug the openings yourself with hydraulic cement or polyurethane caulk.

Check your landscaping.

Check that your landscaping isn’t allowing water to pool around your foundation.

Soil should always slope away from your foundation for at least three feet. If the soil around your foundation is level or slopes back toward your home, add enough fresh soil to allow water to flow away and allow at least six inches of clear space between your foundation and your landscaping.

Maintain Your Plumbing.

While most of the hazards that lead to water in the basement come from outside water; water and drain pipes inside your home could also cause an issue. Plumbing maintenance begins with using your drains properly, including sinks, bathtubs, showers, and toilets.

Waterproof the Walls.

Waterproofing the walls is an effective way of keeping rain- and groundwater out of your basement.

You can paint the interior of your basement walls with a waterproofing product, while a professional waterproofing company will need to waterproof the exterior side of your foundation.

Water in your basement can lead to mold growth and that can lead to health concerns!

Be vigilant in checking for water leaks in your home and basement to avoid big water problems in the future!