Spring is here! The grass is turning green, the trees are beginning to get leaves, and the flowers are beginning to bloom. There’s another natural phenomenon that may have begun in your area, and that’s rain and thunderstorms. Spring showers are a staple in the Kansas City area and around the Midwest, but they mean that you will need to take a few steps to protect your basement from flooding.
Let’s learn about a few of the possible ways you can work to prevent flooding in your basement.
Clean Your Gutters and Downspouts
When you get that one nice day in between winter and spring, it’s time to get outside and do some housework. No, we don’t mean cleaning the kitchen or vacuuming. We mean that to protect your home, you should clean out your gutters regularly. This is easily done with a ladder, gloves, and a hose to wash out any extra debris. Always be careful when you are climbing on a ladder, and never hang on to the gutter for stability.
It can easily pull away from the home. Cleaning out your gutters will make it less likely that water will get backed up in them and come into your basement. When you’ve finished cleaning out your gutters, make sure your downspouts are on and draining at least five feet away from the home. When the downspout is non-existent or too close, water drains directly against your foundation which can cause erosion and foundation cracks. This can eventually lead to bowing walls as well.
Check Basement Windows for Cracks
If you have basement windows, check to make sure that the seal is still good. Over time, the seal on your basement windows–or any windows in your home–can deteriorate. This is a concern especially in the basement because of the possibility of water coming in through the basement windows. This could lead to a big water problem in your basement that has a very simple solution.
Additionally, make a short walkthrough of your home and outside of it and check along your foundation walls for cracks. If you see any and have worries, call KC Waterproofing and Foundation Repair for an estimate and we’ll let you know what’s going on and how it can be fixed.
Test Sump Pumps
You need to test it regularly if you have a sump pump in your basement (which you probably should). First, check to make sure that it’s working. Where your outlet is, you should see two plugs. Unplug both, and then plug in the one just for your pump. If it doesn’t turn on right away, it is not working right. If it does work, make sure to plug back in the other outlet to make sure that your sump pump is ready to go. Next, pour water into your sump pump. This will show you in real-time if it’s going to work.
Are you ready for spring storms?
If you’re not ready, call KC Waterproofing and Foundation Repair. We’re happy to give you an estimate and find out how we can waterproof your basement for the coming spring storms. Contact us for more information on our waterproofing systems and foundation repair services. For more valuable articles like this one to keeping your Kansas City metro area home dry, visit our Ultimate Guide to Waterproofing Your Kansas City Home.
