While most of us in Michigan are happy to see warmer weather, spring can be a tough time on basements. As we had a winter filled with snowfall – the water table in the ground is high as snow melts. If this is coupled with spring rains – it can cause flooding home basements around the state.
To help minimize these issues – consider the following
Downspouts: Make sure your downspouts in good shape, not leaking and pointed away from your home (downspouts can shift or break if they get jammed by ice or pushed by wind in the winter) If you live in an area with lots of trees make sure the gutters and downspouts are clear of leaves and debris.
Downhill ground: Make sure the soil and dirt around the house didn’t shift in any way during the winter to create any natural downhill water entries coming into the home.
Snow piles: If snow or ice has piled up around window wells or other possible entry points for water – make sure to clear them before melting starts.
Sump pumps: If you have a sump pump – check to make sure it is running properly. It can be common in the spring for older sump pumps to get overwhelmed and stop working. It is never a bad idea to have a backup sump pump on hand in case of failure. Backup battery systems are also available for installation.
Condition of your basement walls: Regularly inspecting your foundation walls will help identify cracks and help your detect possible leaks ahead of time.
And if your home does experience a flooding event – there are several good companies you can contact. For example – in the Metro Detroit area Emergency Restoration provides flood and water damage cleanup and restoration services.