How to Prevent Your Basement from Flooding

So many homeowners use their basements as their recreation room, their family room, and their bedrooms. When they have guests over to their home, the basement is often the gathering spot for good laughs and great fun. Homeowners will use their basements as storage spaces to hold seasonal equipment & expensive belongings, which makes it all so much worse when flooding’s occur due to heavy rainfall or sewage backup. Here are a few helpful tips to prevent your basement from flooding:

Ensure Your Home’s Gutters Are Cleared

Maintaining your home’s gutter system and ensuring that it is clear of debris is imperative to preventing floods in your home. When your gutters are clear, rainwater is transported away from the house. However, the accumulation of debris including leaves and ‘helicopter seeds’ can prevent the free flow of water, and instead of water being led away from your house, it can seep down the sides of the house causing structural and foundational corrosion. Check your gutter every 2-3 months and ensure they are cleared of debris.

Invest in A Sump Pump

Sump pumps are an essential investment for any household and ensuring that they are operating efficiently could prevent your home from feeling the full effects of a flood. If you don’t already own one, a sump pump is a protection system that will safeguard your home from problems associated with excess water including mold & grout, as well as destruction to personal property due to water damage. If you own a sump pump, ensure it is in working order and due to the unpredictable nature of storms, ensure you have a backup generator on-hand in case you lose power due to inclement weather conditions.

Repair Your Home’s Foundation If Cracked

Southern Ontario faces several intense rainstorms every year, and this can introduce problems to households that have neglected to repair structural and foundational cracking. The cracks in your basement walls or floors may appear harmless, mainly if they haven’t caused you much of an issue before. However, cracks tend to get bigger and bigger and can cause severe problems including damage to your home’s aesthetic and your bank book if not immediately addressed. Epoxy concrete repair sealant is one option for households with a cracked foundation and can be completed as a DIY (do-it-yourself) project. For more serious issues, contact a home improvement specialist.

Be Mindful of Your Home’s Landscape

As a homeowner you may not consider how the landscape of your backyard affects the condition of your home, but if your yard slopes it could be detrimental during intense rainfalls. During heavy rainfalls, water will flow down a sloped yard and begin to bay around your home’s exterior. Baying water almost certainly always finds a way to enter your home and can initiate issues with your home’s foundation.

Ensure that you also have proper insurance coverage for all types of flooding to protect your home and wallet from flooding destruction securely. As a homeowner, the points mentioned above should all be taken into consideration if flooding is a constant issue in your house.