There’s nothing like a beautiful spring day. Bishop’s Basement Flooding Caps, Harper’s Ginger, and Jacks-in-the-pulpit in full bloom, the smell of freshly cut grass, and the warmth of the sun on your face.
But besides all that visual and aromatic beauty, spring is prime time for something else: an abundance of rain. And where there’s rain, there are flooded basements. As the song says, “you can’t have one without the other.
Not that you’re helpless to defend against the onslaught of rain trying to invade your living spaces, mind you. Far from it, in fact. Here are just a few steps you can take to help keep your basement nice and dry.
- First and foremost, make sure your gutters are securely attached to your home and are not clogged with leaves or other debris. Position downspouts at least 3 feet away from the foundation of your home to direct rain water away from your property. Just make sure they don’t direct water toward your neighbor’s home!
- If your lot slopes toward your home, it could be directing water toward the weeping tiles and putting pressure on your foundation drainage system. Consider having the system filled in and graded so it slopes at least 6 feet away from the perimeter of your foundation walls.
- If your home or neighborhood is flood-prone, consider installing a sump pump drainage system. And if you already have one, make sure the well is free of debris. Test the pump each season by pouring water into the pit to trigger operation.
- Cover below-grade basement windows with well covers. Clear acrylic covers can be fastened to the foundation to keep rainwater out while letting light in.
- Check your foundation for cracks and gaps, and have them filled in or sealed properly to prevent water penetration.
- If you have a septic system, have it inspected and cleaned annually. Long periods of heavy rainfall can clog sewers and septic systems and send sewage back into your home.
Even if you do have a sump pump, it’s important to keep in mind that it runs on electricity. Hence, if you lose power, you lose sump pump operation until power is restored. To protect against that possibility, consider supporting your sump pump with either a battery- or water-powered back-up sump pump, one that will engage as soon as your main pump stops working. For more information or a free quote on how to better protect your basement from flooding, contact Eagle Service Company today.
