How You Can Prevent Flooding in Your Basement

You can prevent flooding in your basement by implementing a handful of effective yet simple practices.

One of the most disheartening things as a homeowner is discovering that your basement has flooded. Cleaning up and restoring water damage and mold can be incredibly challenging and dangerous, especially if it involves sewage. There are many reasons why basements can flood, such as burst pipes, sewer backups, severe weather conditions, poor landscaping, and a damaged foundation. Thankfully, there are several things you can do to prevent this disaster from happening.

Continue reading to find out more.

9 Ways to Prevent Flooding in Your Basement

You can reduce your chances of experiencing a flood or water damage in your basement by taking several preventative measures.

1. Grade Your Yard Away From Your House — Make sure your landscaping and grading are sloping away from the base of your property and let gravity help.
2. Check Sewer Lines Regularly — Backflow can occur after heavy rainstorms. Check sewer lines often, especially after intense weather.
3. Inspect Pipes that are Susceptible to Bursting — With cold weather comes the potential for plumbing to freeze and burst. Inspect these pipes often and take additional steps to prevent them from freezing.
4. Have a Professional Waterproof Your Foundation — A great way to keep water out of your basement is to have a professional waterproof your home’s foundation.
5. Clean Out Your Gutters At Least Twice Each Year — Gutters full of leaves, nests, clogs, and other debris cannot effectively or efficiently remove water away from your home. This can lead to leaks in your windows and water damage throughout your home, like your basement.
6. Extend Your Downspouts — By extending your downspouts, you can effectively and efficiently divert water from the base of your home.
7. Seal All of Your Windows and Exterior Doors — The domino effect continues: if your gutters are not working, water can overflow and seep down the sides of your home and enter through unsealed windows and doors.
8. Inspect Basement Walls for Leaks — If your home isn’t prepared for a storm, your basement walls can crack and leak. Protect your basement with a waterproof foundation, sealed windows, or a properly graded yard. After a major storm, inspect walls for signs of leaks so you can promptly address any issues.
9. If Your Property is Below the Water Table, Install a Sump Pump — A sump pump can help redirect water away from your house where it won’t cause potential damage.

When You Can’t Prevent Flooding in Your Basement, Contact Restoremasters.

Unfortunately, you cannot always prevent flooding in your basement, but the experts at Restoremasters are ready to help in your time of need.

If your residential or commercial property in Northern Utah has been affected by flood, mold, smoke, fire, and more, contact the professionals at Restoremasters. With over 100 years of combined experience, we can effectively and efficiently restore your property to its former state. Our trusted team is dedicated to finding the source of the issue and restoring all affected areas in your home or business. Our qualified technicians are available 24/7 for emergency services throughout the Wasatch Front, including Sandy, Salt Lake City, Draper, South Jordan, West Jordan, and more. Contact Restoremasters to learn more today.