Being Proactive And Not Reactive To Flooding
With the season switching from winter to spring, snow melting and increased rain can cause water to leak into your basement or back up through your plumbing. Spring may try to bring water into your home, but fortunately, there are things you can do to prevent basement flooding from happening.
Cleaning up a flooded basement is much more than a frustrating nuisance, it's dangerous. The standing water puts you at risk for electrocution, and the cleanup should always be done by a professional. Worst of all, besides the time and labor it takes to clear a flooded basement, is the cost. Depending on how severe the flood is, the cleanup and restoration costs can be substantial.
Before any water damage happens in your home or property, you should know the most common causes. Awareness can help you avoid any unfortunate or potentially dangerous situations in the future. The most common causes of basement flooding are:
- Increase in rain and snow melting
- Leaks in your pipes or plumbing
- Damaged, cracked, or broken pipes
- Clogged toilets
- Frozen pipes
- Unsealed basement walls and floors
- Sewage backup
When it comes to basement flooding, prevention is key. If your home is prone to basement flooding, you absolutely need a sump pump. Sump pumps are designed to remove water away from your basement and foundation. Power outages are common during storms, and because a sump pump runs on electricity, you should consider one with a battery backup, so you continue to be protected in the event of an outage.
Old battery backup sump pump.
The previous plumber did a poor job with the piping.
So, we corrected the piping.
Then, we installed a new battery backup sump pump.
A sump pump not only prevents you from spending thousands of dollars cleaning a flooded basement but also on repairing your home's foundation, which can be just as costly. Keep in mind that it doesn't include the cost for other damage if you have a furnished basement and/or store valuables down there. Why go through all of this stress when you can easily prevent it with a sump pump?
Also, water damage often results in the growth of mold and mildew, which not only smells unpleasant but can be hazardous to your health. You should call a professional immediately if you ever spot mold growing in your home, especially if you're not sure where it's coming from.