It’s the rainy season and we are already getting the calls. Basements are flooding and a lot of leaks! There’s plenty of ways to be prepared for the worst, or even preventing them from ever happening. We know a few things you can do to be proactive during this season, that may save you thousands on water damage flood repairs. Below are a few quick ones to get you started.
Install Water Sensors or Flood Detection Systems
Sump Pump Tests & Battery Backups
Clean Downspouts and Gutters
Check & Seal Basement Windows
1. Install Water Sensors of Flood Detection Systems
Never go to sleep in fear of the worst, being ahead of the tragedy will help you from making it worse. There are plenty of alarms and sensors you can find online that can be placed in areas of fear of flooding. These sensors can be placed under sinks to pick up drops of water, or set at the lowest elevation point to sense water build-up at all times of the day. Some of the sensors even can be connected to a phone app or smart home features to warn you before it’s too late. We’d much rather have you find your flood with half an inch of water compared to 2 feet of standing water! Consider getting some smart home upgrades so you can sleep sound in the rainy season.
2. Sump Pump Tests & Battery Backups
Most basements have these, the sump pump, but how often are you checking to see if it works? This is your first line of defense against flooding, and if you can make sure it’s fully operational at all times, the sensors we mentioned above don’t need to lift a finger! Make sure they are fully working at all times needed and also have the ability to clear out water at a fast enough pace for heavy rainstorms. The other thing to consider is the battery backups in case of a power outage during a storm, this will keep the pump pumping so you’re not running around with a bucket all night. There are even some sump pumps that have built-in battery systems for backups in these emergency situations.
3. Clean Downspouts & Gutters
Simple maintenance goes a long way. Cleaning your downspouts and gutters yearly is smart so you don’t run into any blockage of leaves and twigs that could cause for some nasty leaks or puddling. You can use gloves to manually clear it out, or hit it with high powered leaf blowers. If you don’t feel like doing this yourself, just hire out on this one, a few bucks to save you from potentially thousands is smart and proactive!
4. Check & Seal Basement Windows
Check your basement windows for any wear and tear. Look them windows over to make sure there’s no way water can breach the seams. If they look outdated, reapply new caulk to the bordered area to seal off unwanted moisture. Another consideration is getting new windows completely. Sometimes we don’t take the time to clear out old windows in areas we’re hardly in. Staying on top of the structure of our homes goes a long way.
All in all, these aren’t anyone’s favorite tasks to do, to keep our homes protected, but we can say at the end of the day, these little things are well worth the work and time. So now we ask, do you guys maintain and protect your basements? If not, do you plan to try some of these out? Tell us what you plan to do off our list as well as other things you do to keep your home sealed!