Protect your basement from a flood this spring

It’s never too late to take some extra measures to protect your home, especially those who reside in flood-prone areas. If this is your first spring in a new home, ask around the neighbourhood to find out if the area has ever had issues with flooding during heavy spring rainfalls.

Occasionally, improper home maintenance may be the culprit in a basement flood, so take the proper steps to prevent an expensive mess in your home!

The first place to start is with your roof and eavestroughs. Take a look at your home’s system and make sure things are functioning as they should. Gutters should be free of debris and correctly connected to downspouts to ensure that water is efficiently flowing from the roof. Also ensure that downspouts are carrying water far enough away from your home (about two metres is a good rule of thumb) and depositing it on a surface that slopes away from your foundation.

Check the storm sewers on the street near your home, clearing them of any debris.

If you have a sump pump, ensure that it is in good working order. Consider purchasing a generator, which will keep your pump working in the event of a power outage.

If you do end up with a flooded basement this spring, stay safe and prevent greater damage. Don’t run water or flush toilets if your basement drains are plugged, turn off any electrical circuits that are in danger of coming into contact with moisture and try to remove water as quickly as possible to prevent major mold damage.

In addition, if you have children at home, be sure to talk to them about the dangers of flash flooding. Intense rainfalls – over 50mm of rain in a few hours time – can cause extremely hazardous conditions near rivers, creeks and low-lying areas very quickly. Warn children to keep their distance.

Comments

5 Winter Roof Damage Issues Homeowners Need to Know

Winter can be especially harsh on a house's roof, and it’s almost never a good idea to simply wait for spring before addressing the issues that the presence of snow and ice on your roof can cause. Five of the main winter roof damage problems t hat homeowners should be aware of are listed below, along with some advice on how to best manage them. 1. Ice Dam Formation When warm air rises from your heated living spaces, it warms the shingles of your roof and the snow that covers it. This leads to snow melting and dripping down to the colder edges of the roof where it refreezes as ice. Once the ice grows thick enough, it backs up further snow-melt behind it, causing water to seep under the shingles, and eventually into your home through leakage points. Leaks are made the more likely when backed up water freezes and thaws, working its way into nooks and crannies and expanding them. The number one way to prevent an ice dam is by insulating and ventilating your attic, bu...

Keep Employees Healthy This Winter With Better Air Quality

Employers or employees, we sometimes forget that half our lives are being spent in a workspace that is enclosed, and without any exposure to the outside environment. In short, employers and employees are breathing office air for eight hours or more during the day. And when that indoor air is poor quality, health is impacted. Allergy symptoms can be aggravated, worker performance can be diminished, and sick days can start to rise. For all kinds of reasons, it makes good business sense to keep employees healthy in their work environment with excellent quality indoor air. Air quality professionals often pinpoint poor ventilation as a major problem in the workplace. It simply means that fresh outside air isn’t circulating properly throughout a given space. Even worse, a poorly performing HVAC system might be circulating air pollutants instead of cleaning the air, as it should be doing. Optimum air ventilation in any living space is critical in providing fresh air, while reducing the p...

Understanding Black Mold and Condensation Issues in Houses

As the summer heat sets in, many homeowners find themselves dealing with a hidden adversary: black mold. While it’s often associated with damp, dark conditions, black mold can thrive in warm, humid environments, making summer a prime season for its growth. Let’s explore how condensation contributes to this issue and what you can do to prevent mold problems in your home. The Science of Condensation Condensation occurs when warm, humid air comes into contact with cooler surfaces, causing moisture to form. This is particularly common in the summer when the outside temperature is high, but the inside of your house may be cooler due to air conditioning. Common areas where condensation accumulates include: Windows : The temperature difference between the outside air and the glass can lead to moisture forming on the surface. Walls and Ceilings : Poorly insulated walls may cool down significantly, allowing condensation to form on them. Bathrooms and Kitchens : Areas that generate steam from s...

Search This Blog