Warmer weather is on its way! Homeowners may be excited to put the snow shovels away, but they are about to be faced with a new challenge. With spring weather comes more rain showers. While this might be a welcome alternative to snowstorms, heavy rain can create its own problems for houses. In fact, spring flooding is one of the top causes of water damage this time of year.
You don’t have to succumb to the damage, though. Preventing spring flooding in your home is easier than it sounds. In fact, Prime Restoration knows a thing or two about the leading ways that spring flooding finds its way into a home, so homeowners should keep reading to learn a few helpful tips to prevent it.
Move Snow Away from House
While many people are excited to see the snow melting, they don’t realize that their problems don’t end there. Large piles of snow that gather around a house can lead to leaks. The snow melt must go somewhere, and it chooses the path of least resistance, which can sometimes be a crack in the foundation.
Even if the snowmelt itself doesn’t go directly into a house, it can still saturate the ground around it. Eventually, when spring showers arrive, the water won’t have anywhere else to go, and it will pool around the house until it infiltrates windows, weak spots in the foundation, and other areas.
Inspect Foundation for Damage
Since foundation cracks create the perfect access point for rainfall and snowmelt, homeowners should regularly inspect their homes. Even the smallest cracks can allow water to leak into a home, which can cause extensive damage. Fortunately, these small cracks can usually be repaired quickly.
Bigger cracks and concerns may require professional intervention. However, they shouldn’t be ignored because they make a house extremely vulnerable. Professional waterproof barrier installations and foundation repairs can prevent spring flooding in your house.
Clear Clogs in Gutters and Downspouts
When a gutter system works properly, it does a great job of preventing spring flooding in your home. Unfortunately, gutters and downspouts are susceptible to clogs that can render them useless.
If leaves, sticks, dirt, animals, or other debris build up in the gutters, the homeowner needs to remove them immediately. Otherwise, water can run off the sides of the house and enter through the walls. It can also pool around the foundation and flood the basement.
Make Sure Landscaping is Graded for Runoff
If the yard surrounding a home is not gently sloped away from the building, then it could cause spring shower flooding to accumulate around the house. The property needs to be properly graded so that the runoff moves away from the foundation. Usually, small adjustments like removing plant material or adding soil can do the trick. However, severe grading problems may require professional landscaping intervention.
Utilize Window Well Covers
Windows for below-grade rooms are perfect for allowing natural light into the space. In some cases, they are required for safety reasons. Regardless of the reason for installing a window, homeowners should consider covering them.
While this might sound counterintuitive, window well covers can protect homes from water damage. Aging seals and poor installation techniques can leave a window vulnerable to melting snow and rain, but the covers will keep the water away from the vulnerable spots in the windows. Best of all, the covers are clear, so they don’t impede the benefit of natural light.
Install Sump Pumps in Basements and Below-Grade Rooms
Taking all of the necessary precautions still doesn’t guarantee that a home won’t suffer from spring flooding. Therefore, it’s recommended that homeowners always add another layer of defense. Sump pumps are a great tool to protect basements and below-grade rooms from flooding.
If a homeowner already has a sump pump, they still need to stay vigilant. Routine maintenance is critical to ensure that a sump pump doesn’t fail when a homeowner needs it most. Some homeowners even choose to invest in a backup or portable sump pump as an extra layer of protection.
Contact a Professional Restoration Crew to Help with Spring Flooding in Your Home
While these tips are all helpful in preventing spring flooding in your home, there are still chances that it could occur. If it does, homeowners shouldn’t stress over dealing with the cleanup on their own. Instead, they should contact Prime Restoration for professional restoration services.
Homeowners in Spanish Fork can call the crews for 24/7 emergency services if they find spring flooding in their basements. They can also submit the online quote form to learn more about the cost of the restoration services.
