9 Spring Flooding Prevention Tips

After that long and unusually cold winter, it can be a huge relief to finally go outside without wearing 10 pounds of layers. But spring does have its drawbacks as snow doesn’t just disappear with warm temperatures.

There’s nowhere for snow to go except underground and into foundations, not to mention the excess rain that’s soon to follow. Not only does this open the risk for water damage, but severe flooding in basements and crawlspaces can pose major problems for all home and business owners.

Check out these tips on how to prevent spring flooding on your property:

1. Move the Snow. If the snow is already melted, there’s not much you can do. But if it hasn’t, try to move it away from your property as soon as possible to prevent it from seeping into your foundation; a 3 to 5-foot distance should be sufficient.
2. Remove snow from roof. Again, if there is still snow on your roof, use these roof snow removal tips to remove it safely. You can also hire a snow removal professional if you want to save yourself the trouble.
3. Prevent ice damming. When the warm air from the attic seeps through the roof and melts the snow, it can freeze again and create an ice dam in the gutters. Make sure to remove all icicles and snow from the roof and gutters.
4. Inspect downspouts and gutters. These home and building features work miracles to prevent flooding, but they won’t be of much use if they have blockage. Make sure they are all clear of dirt, sticks, leaves, etc. It can make the difference between a soaked and perfectly dry basement during a rainstorm.
5. Seal any foundation cracks. If there are any cracks in the foundation, make sure to have them sealed before first rain. If there are large cracks, consider hiring a professional to patch them for you.

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7. Grade the landscape. If your home is sitting at the bottom of the hill, consider either purchasing the best flood insurance you can find or moving. Otherwise all rain and melted snow will rush into your home’s foundation every time. But if possible, try to regrade the landscape to drain water away from the home; consider planting more trees and moving dirt.
8. Inspect and maintain the sump pumps. Sump pumps can be a godsend during flash floods. But when they don’t work or become overloaded, the water level in the basement will rise by the minute. Ensure that yours is working properly or hire a professional if you are unsure how to do it; however, this is not something to skip out on when trying to save money.
9. Hire a home inspector. With years of experience, a home inspector will know exactly what to look for and even identify a problem that one might never have guessed in the first place.
10. Cover window wells. Window well covers are not only great for keeping water out but great for allowing natural light in. They can be bought at your local hardware store.

What to Do When a Problem Occurs

While there are ways to minimize and even prevent the majority of the damage occurred during flooding, nothing will be able to stop Mother Nature. Even if your home or building has suffered as a result of flooding that occurred within the home, such as a burst pipe, sewer backup, or appliance malfunction, don’t hesitate to call for immediate water damage restoration.

ServiceMaster 24-7 completely understands that not all disasters can be prevented, which is why they available around the clock to provide immediate water damage cleanup services. Their technicians use powerful water extraction and drying equipment in order to reverse the damage, drying out the affected building materials and contents. They can also provide assistance during any open insurance claims to ensure a smooth process.

Don’t hesitate to call ServiceMaster at any time you experience spring flooding.