With snow melting and April showers, we run the risk of water entering our homes. Water damage can be messy, expensive, and may not be covered by your insurance. With spring around the corner, we thought we would provide a few helpful tips for both inside and outside your house to help protect it against expensive water damage.
Inside your Home
There are many ways to protect your home and personal property from accidental water damage. One very small and effective change you can make is ensuring your valuable items are not stored in the basement. For items that must be kept below ground level, consider placing items on top of wooden or cement blocks for protection. If this isn’t possible, consider building a floodwall around these items. Changing the building materials and safety features of your home can also assist in preventing water damage. Consider switching to water resistant building materials, installing a sump pump, or even installing back up water valves. If flooding does occur, shutting off electricity to the areas of the home which may be affected is an excellent idea.
Outside your home
In addition to making changes inside, consider modifying the exterior of your home as well. It is essential that water is always removed away from your dwelling. This can be done in a number of ways. When shoveling snow, you can clear a pathway away from the foundation preventing melting snow from entering the premises. In addition, a rain barrel can be used to catch water run-off and covering window wells may prevent them from collecting water. Proper grading of your property is another way to prevent water from entering from your home. Be mindful of the slope of your property and ensure that the ground is sloping away from the building. Be sure to regularly inspect the sidewalks, driveways and patios around the exterior, to ensure water does not pool. Lastly, consider purchasing plants and trees that resist soil erosion and always ensure that your eaves are clear and downspouts extend at least six feet from the home.
While some of these suggestions might take time, many can be completed with just a simple fix. If you are interested in more tips and a winter home check list, please click here. Let’s ensure that those April showers concentrate on bringing along May flowers instead of water into your homes.
Simple precautions can easily protect your home from water damage.