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How to Prevent Basement Flooding

When spring arrives, you’re ready to be sprung into more time feeling the warmth of the sun on your face while breathing in the smell of flowers in full bloom. But all those flowers can’t bloom without rain – and come spring, we can get plenty of it. Too much rain, in turn, can cause serious damage to your home, from flooded basements and ruined personal belongings to structural damage and harmful mold.

Yet with a little preventive care you can help reduce basement flooding this season and for many more to come. Here’s how:

• Make sure gutters are securely attached to your home and not clogged with leaves, sticks, or other debris. Position downspouts at least three feet away from the exterior of your home so rainwater is directed away from the foundation but not toward your neighbor’s home.
• Even the slightest slope in your lot can be directing water toward the weeping tiles, thus putting pressure on the foundation’s drainage system. Consider re-grading your lot away from the foundation or filling it in with decorative rocks so it slopes at least six feet away from the perimeter of foundation walls.
• If your neighborhood or home is prone to flooding, a sump pump drainage system can keep water from entering the basement, damaging belongings, and compromising building materials. Keep the well free of debris and test the pump each season by pouring water into the pit to engage operation. But remember, a sump pump needs electricity to run, so consider adding a battery back-up pump that will turn on in the event of a power outage.
• Inspect all exposed areas of your home’s foundation for cracks or gaps and have them sealed to prevent water intrusion. Also, cover below-grade basement windows with well covers. Clear acrylic covers are inexpensive and can be fastened to the foundation to keep rainwater out while letting natural light in.
• If you have a septic system, have it inspected and cleaned every one-to-two years, or as recommended by the manufacturer or your installer. Extended periods of heavy rainfall can clog septic systems and sewers, sending sewage back through the pipes and into your home.

Messmer Mechanical is your one source for sump pump installation, ongoing maintenance, and repair. It’s bad enough when water can work its way into your basement, but far worse when you can’t get it out. Contact us today or any time for the service you need.