Protecting Your Family and Property From Heavy Rains and Flood Conditions
Fire may be a more common concern among homeowners, but in fact your home may be ten times more likely to be damaged by water than by fire. Water damage to one’s property can come from weather related conditions such as moisture or flooding from heavy rains, flash floods, and severe storms. Flooding is always a possibility due to causes such as heavy rains in a short period of time.
HEALTH IMPACT
Flooding can cause a range of health impacts and risks, including: death / injury, contaminated drinking water, disease-carrying insects / rodents, moldy houses, and evacuation / displacement.
Extreme rain can cause excessive runoff which can overwhelm water and sewage and septic fields causing contamination.
Extreme rainfall can also stimulate the growth of molds and fungi, resulting in increasing rates of respiratory illnesses in people exposed to them.
Protect Against Flooding Conditions
One of the biggest challenges we face during storms and erratic weather patterns is keeping our basements dry. Often, we deal with the after affects of a wet, damp, and moist basement. If proactive measures are taken, home damage, loss, and health risks can be avoided. We have listed a few things you can do to protect your home and family.
Tips For Preventing A Flooded Basement
Keep Gutters & Down Spouts Clean - Keep gutters clean and extend downspouts away from the house and foundation. This will help limit roof water from collecting and pooling around the foundation.
Landscape - The grade around your foundation should slope away from the house to keep rainfall from collecting and pooling against foundation walls.
Sump Pump Maintenance - Make sure your sump pump is working properly. Make sure the sump pump is plugged into a working electrical outlet. Sump Pump Systems should be serviced (preventative maintenance) at least once a year.
Install A Sump Pump - A sump pump with an automatic level switch should be installed into a basement sump pit (sump liner). When water enters the sump pit, the sump pump will pump water out of the basement (below grade) and away from the house.
Install A Backup Sump Pump - A battery backup sump pump will automatically pump water out and away from the house when there is power loss or if the primary sump pump fails. A battery backup sump pump will also pump water out if the primary pump becomes overwhelmed.
Repair Foundation Cracks - Inspect your basement and repair any cracks. Make Sure There are No Cracks in the foundation wall.
Repair Window Leaks & Protect Window Wells - Inspect basement windows for leaks. If they are leaking, repair them or have them replaced. If your basement windows are below grade, clean any debris around the windows and consider installing Window Well Covers.
Snow Removal - Shovel snow away from the perimeter of the home, especially basement windows. Keeping excessive snow away from your home's foundation will reduce the amount of water caused by snow melt.
Check & Prevent Frozen Pipes - Inspect plumbing that is exposed in the basement. Insulate all water pipes from cold moving to prevent from pipe burst from freezing.
Often, we look to quick fixes for wet basement problems. Mmost flooded basements are caused from a lack of maintenance. Sump Systems need to be maintained. A preventative maintenance program can prevent a flooded basement.
Note: If you do experience a flooded basement, avoid electrical shock by not stepping into basement with water. Contact your local Fire Department or Utility Provider for safety.