Is your home ready for Spring? Take action before the heavy rain hits.

Spring is known for some unpredictable weather. Blue sunny skies one day, and heavy rains the next. Flooding in your basement is mostly likely to happen during these periods of heavy rainfall or when the winter snow is quickly melting during a spring thaw. Standing water in your basement not only leads to costly damage to your property and possessions, but it can also lead to mold and mildew, which can greatly affect your health and the air you breathe in your home.

Below you will find some easy tips to prepare your home for this time of year. These tips can help you to take action to prevent flooding, and will save you money and unnecessary stress.

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1. Free your home of any leftover ice or snow.

Snow can melt and then refreeze in foundation cracks for long periods of time. This can cause the integrity of your home to weaken, and make a leak more likely. Clearing the snow or making sure that any water as a result of the snow melt is moved away from your home is key.

2. Stop rain from entering your home through basement windows.

If you have below-grade basement windows, consider using window well covers. They are an effective solution to preventing rain water from coming into the house through those windows.

3. Exterior maintenance.

Clearing your gutters of all debris, extending your downspout lines away from the foundation and regarding the soil away from your home are easy ways to ensure proper water flow so that your home stays dry. If you have below-grade basement windows, window well covers are also an effective solution to prevent rain water from entering the inside of the home.

4. Maintain your Sump Pump System.

If you have a sump pump in your basement, make sure that it is plugged in and working properly. When installed correctly and in working order, your sump pump can collect water and push it outside of the house. It is important to clean and inspect your system each spring before the heavy rains begin.

5. Understand your insurance policy.

Carefully check your insurance policy to see if common plumbing leaks or water damage is covered. Standard policies don’t usually cover flooding, and may require additional coverage.

6. Know who to call in the event of a flood or emergency.

A reputable contractor will be able to help if your basement does flood. Check their references and make sure their program includes emergency response so that your house is a priority during a flood or other time of need.

Frozen discharge lines causing some big flood problems for Central Ohio basements

Old man winter has dumped plenty of snow on Central Ohio over the past few weeks. Just today we have received calls from homeowners in Dublin, Westerville, Columbus, and Pickerington that their basements are flooding but they hear their sump pump running. 

During the inspection, our Project Managers are identifying two causes that have contributed to the flooded basement: 

1.  The snow plows have pushed snow against the curbs and blocked the discharge lines at the street. This causes the lines to back up and the water is forced back into the home.

2.   The sump pump discharge line is frozen and blocked by ice at the exit elbow of the home.

If your home is experiencing either of these issues, there are some actions you can take immediately that offer a temporary solution to prevent flooding in your basement.

1. If you see a freeze plug on the discharge line as it is exiting the home, remove it to allow the water to discharge.

2. If there is not a plug and the line is going directly into the ground, separate the sump pump line from the underground.

While both of these actions can help prevent water from entering the basement in the short term, they are not long term fixes. At this point, the water will be exiting toward your foundation, and it can eventually make its way into your basement, causing costly damage to your home and your belongings.

The Freeze Relief installed on the home.

Freeze Relief is an innovative product that offers a permanent solution once it is installed where the sump pump discharge line exits the home. This is a simple, maintenance free, unit that prevents freezing and clogging of lines, and gives homeowners some security from their basements flooding, even during the coldest of winter months.

But don't wait until there is a problem. Homes without the Freeze Relief are at a major risk of flooding during the winter. Get the peace of mind you deserve and schedule a consultation today.

Visit mybasementdoctor.com or call us to schedule at 1-(877) 264-9050.