Water intrusions into your home's basement don't just create a horrible mess, they can also result in significant water damage that's expensive to fix. Rather than leaving basement flooding to chance, it's wiser to take preventive measures before it occurs. Here are some smart ways to reduce your risk of water damage:
INSPECT AND MAINTAIN THE GUTTER SYSTEM
Seal leaks and gaps in your gutters, make sure the sections are firmly attached, and check that the downspouts are well-connected and positioned properly. If any downspouts discharge water near the foundation, add extensions so water drains out three feet away, minimum. Clean debris from the gutters regularly, too, so it can't cause a water overflow or backup.
HAVE FOUNDATION CRACKS FIXED
Walk around your foundation to identify any cracks where water can seep inside, and check unfinished basement walls indoors. You can fix minor cracks yourself with masonry sealant indoors and epoxy outdoors, but wide gaps or extensive cracking may need specialized waterproofing.
KEEP THE SUMP PUMP FUNCTIONING WELL
Test the pump periodically to ensure it's functioning properly, and keep the pit debris free. Unless you have a generator that can keep the pump operating in a power outage, it's wise to put it on a battery backup.
GIVE THE SEWER SYSTEM SOME ATTENTION
Sewer backups are more likely to occur after a spring rain has saturated the ground. To reduce the likelihood of a backup, get your tank pumped if your home has a septic system. You should also have a pro inspect the main sewer line and clear out any potential obstructions.
FIX FOUNDATION LANDSCAPING DEFICIENCIES
If the soil is too high around your foundation or there's inadequate slope, it's an invitation for rainwater to enter your basement. To prevent this, check that the soil is a minimum of four inches down from the top of the foundation, and that it slopes away from the foundation at one-inch per foot.
Visit our Valley Heating, Cooling, Electrical website for in-depth information on most HVAC topics, or for more advice about preventing basement flooding, just give us a call at (408) 868-5500.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the South Bay Peninsula and Santa Cruz areas of California about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).