If your basement has ever flooded, or experienced any type of water damage,
you know just how stressful it can be. With a few simple maintenance
tips and a keen eye, you can greatly reduce your risk of flooding. When
it comes to basement flooding, we’ve seen our fair share of damage.
To keep you and your basement dry, here are seven ways you can prevent basement flooding.
Clean and maintain gutters and downspouts
Cleaning your gutters and maintaining
your downspouts is an essential part of maintaining your Toronto home.
By keeping your gutters free of debris and ensuring downspouts are
properly positioned away from the foundation, water from rain and storms
will flow freely, rather than pooling up against your home.
Downspouts should direct water at least
three feet away from your foundation; in most cases, using downspout
extensions or troughs is necessary to achieve this distance. While
cleaning your gutters and maintaining your downspouts can be a bit of
annoyance, it’s a relatively simple and inexpensive task.
Properly landscape your yard
The slope of your yard or the shape of your flower bed could be contributing to your water issues.
Seems crazy, right? Consider this: if the slope of your yard directs
water towards your home, water will pool up around your property, and
eventually find a way in. Depending on your specific landscaping issue,
you may need to regrade your lawn, or even have a French drain installed.
Inspect and repair foundation cracks
Cracks in your home’s foundation can act as an open invitation to water intrusion. To prevent basement flooding or water damage,
visually inspect the exterior of your foundation, basement walls and
floors on a regular basis. If you come across any cracks during your
inspection, fill them with epoxy. If leaking still persists, or you
encounter a more serious foundation problem, call a professional.
Practice proper sump pump maintenance
Sump pump failure is the most frequent cause of basement floods. If your home has a sump pump, you’ve already got a great defense in combating mold, water damage,
and flooding. However, simply owning a sump pump doesn’t give you a
“get out of jail free” card – you’ve got to maintain it too.
If you know a huge storm is headed your
way, check to make sure your sump pump is working properly and is
plugged in. Also, consider investing in a generator for your sump pump
and a replacement to keep on hand, just in case you lose power or the
pump fails when you need it most. Keep in mind, if your basement floods as a result of a broken sump pump, your homeowner’s insurance may not cover the damage.
Inspect sewers and clean septic systems
When was the last time you had your sewer inspected or your septic tank cleaned? Skipping out on sewer
inspections and septic tank cleanings is a sure fire way to invite
havoc into your home, as clogs, sewer backups and overflows are bound to
eventually happen with lack of maintenance.
Install window well covers
Homes with below-grade basement windows
should always be protected with window well covers. When fastened
securely over your basement windows and latched on to your home’s
foundation, window well covers work wonders in waterproofing your basement. To keep your basement bright, look for clear acrylic window well covers.
Get familiar with your insurance
Do you have flood insurance? How about additional coverage for sewer backups? This won't prevent basement flooding per se, but if you don’t know the answer to either of these questions, take a few moments to review the details of your home’s insurance policy.
The overall lesson: Be a proactive Toronto homeowner
As much as we hate to say it, owning a
home is never a walk in the park. Whether problems arise from flooding,
fire damage or even mold growth, issues are bound to occur - after all,
there’s no such thing as the “perfect home.” By being a proactive
homeowner, you can spot small and easily fixable issues before they
become full-blown disasters. When it comes to a dry basement, a little
bit of pro-activeness goes a long way.
source:angieslist
If you are still looking for trusted
plumber, Mister Plumber in Toronto, Etobicoke, Scarborough, North York
specializing sewer repair, upgrade waterline, water service upgrade, drain cleaning, backwater valve installation, lead pipe
replacement, re-piping and emergency plumbing, Mister Plumber uses the
latest technology to effectively troubleshoot and quickly repair any
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Call a fully-licensed, bonded and insured Toronto plumber at 416 939 1530
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