How NOT to Flood Your Basement 

The countless hours and probably thousands of dollars we pour into our basements to transform them into anything other than a concrete dungeon isn’t anything to scoff at. The last thing that you’d want is for a flash flood or cracked sewage line to find its way into your furnished basement, turning it into a downright hazardous area. For a basement to truly be finished, we’ve got to have some flood prevention steps in place. Layers of protection are key! We’ll go over some of those layers and hopefully save you some misery later on down the line. Here’s how NOT to flood your basement.

 

Prevention Is Key

 

Before a flood is even close to a reality, we can look at some ways to minimize the risk of a flood affecting our homes. If you tend to get a lot of rainwater, it might be worth it to do a little planning and figure out the best ways to divert all that flow away from the residence. Extending rain gutters and downspouts and making sure the grading in the yard is suitable are good first steps. Making sure water has clear pathways to sewers unobstructed is the next. Gutters won’t help if a pile of leaves is clogging the line in the street anyway!

 

Speaking of Leaves

 

After fall it’s wise to clean any pathways around your home, especially blocked gutters, which are easy to forget about! Making sure there’s no dirt, debris, or wildlife that’s interfering with your home’s ability to deal with significant downpours is a huge component of preventing flooding, as the alternative is water pouring directly off your roof onto your already soaked foundation.

 

Get a Sump Pump

 

Automatic sump pumps are vital in keeping large amounts of water from collecting anywhere, they essentially act like floor drains, and as long as they can continue receiving power, they’ll do their jobs and minimize the amount of water impacting you.

 

Get ANOTHER Sump Pump

 

Two is one and one is none. Pumps are mechanical devices, and therefore can and will fail. The point in time you would least want to discover a failing sump pump in your basement is when the water is getting high enough to do laps in. Having a backup pump is highly suggested, if not just for peace of mind than for contingency.

 

Emergency Power

 

Consider installing some kind of automatic emergency power system to ensure the continued operation of vital equipment. Your climate control and any pumps you need for sewage and emergencies can prevent a flooded home, frozen pipes, or flooded septic tank.

 

Flood Damage in Your Basement? Call RestoPros

 

There are a ton of options available to you, and even more tips to research on how to best avoid a flooded basement. If this is a worry of yours, or if you find yourself wanting to know more about the factors and preventative measures one could take to mitigate or prevent said disasters, give the experts at RestoPros a call today to find out more, or even set up an installation!