5 Ways To Prevent Your Basement From Flooding

3/26/2017 12 Comments

5 Ways To Prevent Your Basement From Flooding

.Basement flooding is one of the most stressful, yet prevalent issues homeowners face on a yearly basis. Flood damage is not only difficult and timely to remove, but it can also ruin Super Bowl parties or lifelong memories for you and your family. Nonetheless, like almost any home issue, there are certain precautions homeowners can take to ensure no water comes anywhere near the basement. Below are our five tips to avoid a flooded basement.
Keep Gutters Free of Debris The best way to prevent basement flooding is by keeping your gutters free of debris. Preventing water from leaving your premises is never helpful. Your gutters were put in for a reason and driving water away from the home is its No. 1 function. If leaves or branches get caught in your gutters, water could start to pile up and leak right around your foundation. The more water near the foundation, the more likely your basement is going to flood. Cleaning your gutters is easy and should be done every spring and fall. See our step-by-step guide for cleaning your gutters here.
Make Sure There are No Cracks in the Foundation Even if your home has no history of flood damage, it is vital that you seal cracks in the foundation walls and basement ﬂoors. I don’t need to explain that if there are holes in the foundation, water will get into the basement. There is no way around it.
Many sealing solutions are DIY projects, but some require professional installation. Start by removing any crumbling concrete and repair all cracks in the walls and floors. Use masonry caulk on cracks less than 1/8 inches wide. Caulk only costs about $10 per tube. Patch wider cracks with epoxy filler and a putty knife. Remember to patch the places where pipes and tie rods pass through the concrete. Drylok Fast Plug is effective for sealing cracks in masonry. For complex cracks or those subjected to movement, hire a professional, as DIY kits are less reliable for this level of damage.
To see what it cost to seal the cracks in your foundation, check out our basement sealing cost estimator.
Position Downspouts Away from FoundationYour gutters could be as clean as whistles, but if you don’t have proper downspouts directing all that water away from your foundation, basement flooding can occur. They need to be thick and long enough to handle large amounts of water. Especially in areas of heavy rainfall, downspouts of 3X4 inches are highly recommended. They should be placing the rain gathered from the gutters at least five feet away from the home. If your current downspouts are not meeting these basic guidelines, you should think about extending them, another simple DIY project

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12 Comments

Greta James link

2/6/2020 10:11:14 am

Thank you so much for your advice to make sure that your gutters are clean and operational and cracks in walls and window edges are all filled! About a week ago, I was talking to my sister, and she mentioned that her home is built on land with a high water table and she is afraid of the water flooding her basement. I wonder if there are pumps that could be installed to remove the water before any damage was caused.

Waterproofinggrandrapids.com link

12/8/2021 08:12:50 pm

Another method of keeping away rainwater from your basement is by modifying the landscape near your house. You see, some landscapes are flat and cause water to stagnate at a fast rate — prompting water to enter the house and basement. Anyway, great blog!

Here link

2/2/2022 02:04:36 am

Water damage can happen anytime and anywhere. Luckily, we are here to help you for water damage restoration. Our team of restoration professionals is well-versed in dealing with the aftermath of water damage to your property. From mold remediation to drying out, we can get it taken care of for you. We will work with you to assess the damages and let you know the steps we will take to clean up and repair your home. We always want to help you as quickly as possible so that you don't have to deal with the inconvenience of a flooded home for too long.

Afton Jackson link

8/15/2022 07:17:18 pm

The most helpful part of your article was definitely the part that discussed what to do with your gutters. This isn't a part of our house that we pay attention to most of the time, but I can really see how this would make a huge difference in the way your house's foundation stays intact. I'll take your advice about this and and ask a gutter expert to either do some maintenance for us or start helping us with a replacement.

waterproofing in parramatta link

8/30/2022 08:58:56 pm

Spend some time every so often walking around your house to check the pipes and foundation. Flooding is frequently brought by by leaking pipes or wall flaws that let water pour in. It's possible that you were unaware that water has been seeping into your house. Over time, the foundation may also degrade and begin to erode. Regular house inspections will help you find these cracks and leaks when they are still minor and easier to fix. You can seal them yourself without assistance from a specialist if they are still little.

Jessie Holloway link

9/2/2022 01:01:52 pm

Thanks so much for the advice on how to prevent a basement flood. A family friend’s basement recently flooded and they’re not sure where to start in the restoration process. They’ve been thinking about hiring a restoration company to help them fix the damage that was caused.

John Carston link

9/8/2022 04:47:03 am

I like that you said that providing a solution not to allow water to flow inside your home is a great way to prevent flooding. A week ago, my cousin informed me that he was hoping to find a resolution as they have molds in their basement walls because of water leaks, and he asked if I had any idea what would be the best option to consider. I love this informative article, I'll tell him that he can consult a basement waterproofing service as they can provide details about the process of waterproofing.

Braden Bills link

1/3/2023 06:03:25 am

I'm getting a home made in a place with heavy rainfall, so I don't want to have to worry about any flooding in my basement. It makes sense that I would want to ensure that my downspouts are installed in the right direction! That way, I can keep water from seeping toward my foundation.

1/9/2023 01:07:44 pm

Thanks so much for the tips on what to keep in good shape to prevent flooding. my cousins recently had a flood scare in their basement and they want to get their rooms as waterproofed as possible so if it ever does happen they are prepared. we'll have to look into finding a waterproofing company to help them get their basement how they want it.

Eli Richardson link

2/15/2023 02:31:44 pm

It's helpful to know how to prevent floods from damaging our basement and the importance of seeking professional help if you find wide cracks in your walls and floors. We bought a house last month, and we think its basement needs some work before we're able to set up our home theater, so we'll follow your advice for sure. Thanks for the tips on identifying and sealing cracks to avoid foods.

Tex Hooper link

2/21/2023 03:02:58 pm

You make a great point about using masonry caulk. My gutter seems to be coming apart at the seams. I'll have to have them patched up.

Henry Killingsworth link

3/27/2023 11:37:51 am

It never would have occurred to me that keeping your gutters free of debris can prevent basement flooding. It seems like it would be a good idea to inspect your roof frequently if you have a large tree that is growing over your home. You would want to remove the leaves and branches that will inevitably drop into your gutters.

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5 Ways To Prevent Your Basement From Flooding

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