Preparing Your Basement Against Water Damage.

3/24/2020 (Permalink)

This basement in Wichita, KS had a sump pump die in the middle of an intense rainstorm and had no back up pump. SERVPRO was there to help.

As winter recedes and the warmer wetter part of the year begins a good thing to think about including in you spring cleaning is preparing your home for rains. The transition between seasons can cause problems your home never had before and is also a great opportunity to make changes that have been put off.

Drainage is very important to keeping water out and away from your home. Here are some things you should do or consider when it comes to the exterior of your home.

• Clean and evaluate your gutters
• Add gutter extensions where possible
• Check for leaking areas in your gutter with your hose
  • While running your hose check your basement and make sure the spigot or pipe leading up to it didn’t freeze and crack over the winter
• Has any large landscaping work been done by you or your neighbors since the last major rainfall? This could change the way water moves on your property creating a new drainage problem.
• Adding French Drains to your property
• Inspect your roof for missing or damaged shingles.
• Check windows caulking and seals

When it comes to the inside of your house there are many precautions you can take as well. Of course if you already have a water issue going on that should be dealt with and we can help with that. We do free mold and moisture inspections and can help identify the source of moisture. Make sure you locate the main water shut-off valve in your home. This is imperative to turn off as soon as possible if a pipe or water supply line breaks. Here are some things you can do to help the interior of your home:

• Check all appliance and faucet water supply and drains for leaks or damage/degradation
• Check your sump pumps, pour some water in there and make sure it runs fine
• Get a water powered back up sump pump
• Take as many items off the floor and put onto shelving
• Protect your belongings in plastic waterproof bins.
• A duct cleaning removes particulate build up in your HVAC system

If you have any moisture issues going on in your home give us a call for a free inspection. Call today at (316) 684-6700.