By Jessie Petritis
Water can be unpredictable. We live in a state where the weather has drastic changes. One day we have 4 inches of snow the next we have a full 24 hours of heavy rain. In these cases the ground becomes saturated and the sewer systems may not be able to keep up. Your house is sitting in a pool of water..... water surrounds your foundation. You will never hear the words, “Oh I have water in my basement.” said with a smile. It can be stressful but you as a homeowner can do a few preventative actions to help eliminate or minimize water seeping in.
1.Ensure proper landscape grading
Ideally, the ground should drop one inch for every one foot that you move away from the house for the first 5-to-10 feet around your house. While this is not always possible, the ground should never be sloping upwards as you move away from your house foundation.
2.Maintain gutters and downspouts
Inspecting your downspouts for clogs and making sure your gutters are allowing rainwater to move freely is key. You should also be mindful of how far away your downspouts are from your home. A good general rule is having your downspouts discharge the water at least 4 feet from your home.
3.Install a dehumidifier
A dehumidifier is a device that reduces the relative humidity in the air. A dehumidifier helps pull moisture from the air keeping dampness under control. Prevention is definitely better than cure when it comes to mold.
4.Verify the efficiency of your sump pump and drain tile system
Test your equipment. Make sure the sump pump is functioning to properly discharge the water. Look for worn parts; parts may need to be replaced. A huge recommendation would be to get a battery backup. A battery backup will help make sure your pump doesn't fail, even in the event of a power outage. If you have battery backup installed, make sure you test the battery by unplugging the pump. Inspect the water discharge area. Ensure water is being directed at least 20 feet away from your house and confirm the water is flowing and not clogged along the line. Verify that your drain tile system is working efficiently to get the water to the sump pump and away from your foundation. Think your drain tile is having problems, this leads into number 5, call a professional. A drain tile test maybe recommended to confirm.
5.Call a professional
If you have taken all the above measures and you still can’t seem to stop the seepage call a professional. You may need to have a plumber or foundation expert come and investigate.
All problems have solutions. Prevention is key and if you take the correct measures large problems can be intercepted. Don’t let water be the enemy; take action!
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