There is a lot of snow in and around Boston. In fact, many areas have at least 36" of snow that will eventually melt. This equals over 3" of water. This means that there will be over 3" of water sitting on the ground when this melts and we are expecting more. Not only are we going to have more water and snow, there is we also need to consider the snow on the roof that is also going to melt adding more water to the ground sitting next to your foundation. This can cause some problems.
This could be a catastrophe waiting to happen for the homeowner. Much of this water will try to penetrate the foundation and find its way into the basement. What we recommend may be hard work, but try to move some of this snow away from the foundation of your home. Move it about four to five feet. This should help a little bit.
Also, remove the snow from on your bulkhead away from your bulkhead. You also want to try to move the snow away from your downspouts. You should also check your gutters and downspouts. If you downspouts are not down or damaged, the water will come right down that corner and that is a prime spot for a leaking foundation. Also, check your outside faucets, ensure they are not leaking. Shut them off from the inside, then open them up outside so the water get out.
On the inside of your home, take a look of the foundation walls inside your home. Check for cracks in foundation walls. If you do, this is where the water will come into you home. Also, take a look at the tie-rods, those are the little dimples where the rods are in your foundation walls. If there are any rust spots, this is a sign that water has come into the home in the past. These areas can also be addressed.
Check the top of your bulkhead where the metal door meets the concrete and look for water lines. This will tell you that water is coming in from there also. When you are in the bulkhead area, check where the concrete steps meet the foundation, this is another weak spot where you can check for water lines. Check where the cement floor and the cement walls meet, look for water lines or discoloration.
If you happen to have a sump pump, be sure it is plugged in then raise the float and be sure you hear the motor go on when you do that. Also, you could have cracks in your cement floor, water marks or white power are signs that water has come in in the past. These are interior and exterior areas you can check to prevent water from entering your home when the snow melts.
For more information, contact A1 Foundation Crack Repair.