Wondering how to prevent your basement from flooding during the rainy season? Here are some useful tips that will help you!
Basement floods can be quite devastating for homeowners. They cause damage to the structural integrity of your home and lead you to lose all of your keepsakes, furniture, family heirlooms, appliances, and everything else that was in your basement.
This is why you must do everything in your power to prevent basement floods. After all, your basement should not start leaking every time it rains. Take the right precautionary measures today to save yourself from dealing with future floods.
Here are some helpful tips that you can use to prevent basement floods:
Grade Your Lawn Properly
If the yard that surrounds your house slopes or grades toward it rather than away from it, then your basement is at risk of flooding. This is because when it rains, the water will naturally find its ways toward your home. Ideally, your lawn should slope away from your house so that rainwater can move away from your foundation and go toward the city gutters and streets.
If your lawn slopes toward your house, then you can use the following landscaping solutions to prevent the water from entering your home:
- Install a rain garden
- Divert rain sprouts
- Install a green roof
- Dig out a swale in your lawn
- Use denser mulch
Always Leave a Gap Between Your Siding and Mulch
Always make sure to leave a barrier of about 6 inches between the mulch that you use in flower beds and your foundation. This is particularly true for sidings and other building materials that will not be able to withstand heavy water flow.
Extend Your Downspouts and Turn Them Away from Your House
Instead of having your downspouts end right above the ground near your home or connecting them to your footer drain, extend them a little so that rainwater runs further away from your home. Direct the water toward an area that is graded away from your house so that the water doesn’t come rushing back toward your foundation. Otherwise, the water will saturate the ground below and end up in your basement.
Clean Out Your Gutters Twice a Year
Sticks, leaves, and other debris tend to clog gutters. This is why you must clean them regularly. Make a habit of cleaning out your gutters twice every year. If the gutters are clogged during a heavy downpour, they will not drain correctly, which will force the water to pool around the perimeter of your house. Eventually, this water will find its way into your basement.
Install a Back-Up System and Sump Pump
Install an automatic sump pump in your basement so that even if water enters your basement it won’t cause any damage inside. This is because the pump will act as a huge floor drain and suck the water out of your basement and redirect it out of harm’s way. You can also invest in battery-operated backup sump pumps to prevent flooding in case the power goes out and your pump stops working.
If you are unable to prevent basement flooding, make sure to call a professional water damage restoration company right away. They will have the right expertise and tools needed to remove the water from your home and dry your basement thoroughly.
If you’re looking for a reliable water damage restoration company, then visit our website today!
