Homeowners across the country, and especially those in heavy snowfall areas, are gearing up to prepare their homes for the inevitable thaw. Take a look at these tips to ensure you get your home spring-ready!
Clear snow away from your home
As it starts to warm up outside, you may notice mounds of snow around your home. Be sure to clear it away: any snow that stays packed up around your house or covers your drains can seep into the ground, and around the foundation of your home when it melts. Seepage can lead to leaks, and leaks and become floods, so it’s important to make sure that the foundation of your home stays clear of melting ice and snow!
Clean your gutters
Snow, ice and other debris can gather in your gutters over the season. If you don’t clear it out before everything begins to thaw, the debris caught in there could slow the flow of water and cause it to build up in certain areas.
Puddles of water can seep their way into your home causing water damage to the structure, or to your items inside. It’s imperative that your gutters are clear of all debris so that the water from melting ice and snow can drain quickly, instead of sitting stagnant and possibly causing a leak.
Inspect your sump pump
A properly functioning sump pump is another key to making sure your home stays dry during the spring thaw. Once you make sure yours is up and running, think about adding a back-up battery to ensure you’re covered in the event of an electricity outage.
Install backflow valves
To prevent water damage to your home, consider installing backflow valves – they’re key to protecting your basement from flooding during a time when there’s a lot of water, like during the spring melt.
Backwater valves enable a one-way flow from your home’s sewer line. As soon as the valve detects backflow it’ll close right up, and keep your basement safe. It’s good to note that these valves can’t protect backflow that comes from inside your home, like a clogged bathroom drain.