Basement Leaks & Floods

Burst Pipes

• The source of a basement flood that is most in your hands is a burst or broken pipe. It can happen that you go away for vacation and leave the heat off in the house to keep home energy costs down. The interior temperature dips below freezing, and a pipe in the basement bursts under the increased pressure from the freezing water within, which can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage. Keep your home heating system on low throughout the cold weather, even when you are not at home, to help prevent such an occurrence.

Sump Pump Installation

• You may face a flooded basement during times of heavy rainfall. Installing a sump pump, which is a submersible pump placed beneath your basement floor, can help mitigate this threat. Sump pumps work by pumping water out of the basement before it reaches your floor and can cause damage. They are placed 4-to-5 feet beneath the basement floor and are triggered when the water level approaches the floor. The water is typically discharged outside of the house, far from the foundation.

Leader and Gutter Maintenance

• When a basement floods, most of the water flowing in has come from a few feet around the perimeter of the house. Improperly drained properties, either due to a lack of proper drain systems or unmaintained leaders and gutters, can greatly increase the chances of basement floods. Ensure your leaders and gutters are empty and functioning properly by cleaning them, or having them cleaned, several times throughout the season. Install gutter runners on the ground where rain water dumps from your leaders to direct the water flow away from your home.

Property Maintenace

• Large amounts of concrete or asphalt can contribute to a poorly draining property. If you have a problem with rainwater leaking into your basement, you may want to look in to planting more trees on your property, which is by no means a quick fix solution. Installing a sump pump is the best bet to prevent your basement from flooding during the next rainfall, but adding more greenery to your property can help sop up some of the excess water. If you get started greening up your yard now, you will be happy you did in the future.