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Residents of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire & Connecticut have been hit hard by this year’s harsh winter weather. With the winter hopefully winding down and spring is just the corner the corner. The start of spring means the rainy weather is on its way.
The first thing to do would be to look outside at your gutters and downspouts. Check to see if they are damaged or clogged with leaves and debris. Next, make sure your downspouts are pitched away from the house at least four feet. It may be necessary to use a gutter extensions to divert water away from you foundation.
Secondly, take a walk around the exterior perimeter of your foundation and look for foundation cracks that are above the soil on the foundation. If these cracks are above the foundation there is a 98% chance that these cracks go from top to bottom and all the way through. Furthermore, there is a good chance if you have a crack that it will leak. Next, inspect the interior of your basement and look at your foundation for basement wall cracks, floor cracks, weeping tie rods, leaking bulkheads or pipe penetrations. If you do notice water lines or seepage we advise to get this fixed now rather than waiting. Holding off on a repair now may cause future flooding, property damage, and stress to you and your family.
Thirdly, in the past, if you have had water penetration into your basement from floor cracks or floor/wall seams, you should consider the installation of a sump pump. If not a sump pump, at the very least, a surface pump should be ready in case of a future flood.
Fourth, if you have a septic tank or leach field, have them inspected and/or pumped out. Fifth, if you have below grade windows, install covers for rain water. If you have window wells that have leaked in the past, you may have to dig them deeper.
Sixth, take a look at your insurance policy. In the majority of cases, damage due to leaky basements or flooding is not covered. However, if you have a sump pump, you can purchase a rider on your insurance policy for sump pump insurance for as little as $40 a year. If the sump pump were to malfunction or get overwhelmed, this additional insurance will cover some of the loss.
Seventh, you can purchase a flood alarm that is placed on the basement floor that will sound if water comes into contact with the alarm sensor or hits a predetermined level. These alarms can be purchased at the big box hardware stores for as little as $10-$15. With this type of alarm you have to be home to hear it. The other type of alarm you do not have to be home to hear it. This type of alarm will call you on your cellphone and can then ring to other phone numbers if you do not answer. This type of system is purchased with a home security system.
In conclusion, there are many preventative steps to prevent basement flooding this spring. However, the best step would be to identify potential problems before the rainy season and get them fixed by a professional concrete and foundation repair specialist. Contact A-1 Foundation Crack Repair Inc. today and speak to a live basement waterproofing and floor crack repair professional.
E-mail: info@a1foundationcrackrepair.com
Toll Free: 866-929-3171