No one wants a flood in their basement, and no one wants to have to deal with the associated clean-up costs and replacement money that can occur as a result of basement flooding. Here are a number of preventative measures for basement flooding that all homeowners should take advantage of, and even check over annually to make sure no new problems have developed.

Around the House

1) First, check to make sure that the slope of the yard or lot around your house is outward – meaning that rainwater, thawing snow and drainage will naturally move away from your home’s foundations and toward the ditches. On older properties, some foundation settlement may have occurred, causing unwanted water to flow to the base of the foundation’s French drains. This would direct the water into the sump pump pit, potentially causing an overflow.

2) Check your eavestroughs. They should always be directed so that the water will flow as far away from the side of the house as possible, draining onto the ground’s surface and not directing it toward the foundations. For flat roofed homes, the pipe in the center of the roof that directs water inward must be connected to a storm sewer or public ditch.

Checking the Sump Pump

3) Check and know the capacity of your sump pump. This information should be supplied by the manufacturer, which should also tell you the diameter of the pipe, as well as the height of your water backup pipe. The circuit that runs the sump pump must be able to handle the load.

4) The pipe that then carries the water to the drainage ditch must be in a well-maintained condition, and the outlet cannot ever be blocked. The pipe itself must have a continuous slope, preventing water from freezing inside the pipe during winter before it reaches the ditch. This will also prevent pooling or accumulation.

5) If your residential area receives a large amount of rainfall or snow in certain months, it may be wise to invest in a sump pump alarm system. This system will alert you to high water levels in the sump pit, letter you know that the pump may not be capable of removing the required amount of water – and that you need to switch to a secondary backup pump.

Weather-Related Issues

6) Your basement may flood in the case of a blackout, if it occurs during a heavy rainfall. This is why a portable generator or secondary battery-operated sump pump may be necessary in your area.

7) During the winter months, snow removal should not allow accumulated snow to sit near the foundation wall of your home. In the spring, this may thaw and cause flooding. If you have a contractor removing your snow during these months, indicate an alternate area for the snow to be placed, since many contractors do not take this into account.

Additional Preventative Measures

If there are cracks in your foundation walls, these must be repaired immediately as they are noticed. The kind of product and intensity of repair will depend on the level of damage, and in some cases, you may need to call a home repair specialist, especially if the crack or water damage is pooling around the base of your foundations.

If you have a rear or side ditch, it is your responsibility to maintain the cleanliness of this area. It helps to drain your property, and therefore must remain clear of obstructions in order to ensure there is no potential hazard for water backup.

photo by Jason Montgomery
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