Before spring arrives, it is important to take steps to prevent any potential water damage to your home. Follow these simple tips to ensure your home is ready for this year’s spring thaw.

Check for Ice Buildup
Keep excess snow and ice away from the foundation, especially riskier areas like basement windows. With spring freeze-thaw cycles melting snow and ice won't drain properly if the ground is frozen and can leak into your basement and cause a flood. If you don’t have window wells, call a professional and get them installed this summer. 

Inspect for Cracks
Walk around your home and identify cracks in the foundation. All cracks have the potential to leak and cause infiltration. Be sure to call a professional to repair and seal cracks to prevent any further damage or leaks. 

Clean Gutters
Eavestroughs are vital for protecting against water damage as they are the primary source for directing water from your roof away from your home. Melting snow or ice will not drain properly if eavestroughs are clogged and can cause significant damage to your roof and the foundation of your home. Clear eavestroughs of any debris that has built up over the winter or consider installing a screen guard to prevent debris from entering the eavestrough.

Check Sump Pump
Test your sump pump by dumping a bucket of water into the pit. This will raise the float and if the pump turns on and the water drains, your system is functioning. Be sure your sump pump evacuation pipe has a check valve to prevent water from backing up into your pit and inspect for any debris that could damage the pump. 

Clean the pump inlet screen and if your pump is old, consider getting a new one. You should also have a 2nd back-up pump and backup battery system or a generator in case of power outages and if you’re unsure about the performance of your sump pump system, have a plumber inspect it now before it’s too late.

Protect Against Ice Damming
Ice damming occurs during the winter when heat from your attic causes snow to melt on your roof. The snow melts and then travels down to the edge of the roof where it then freezes. This can cause water to get under your shingles and leak into your home. 

If you’ve noticed the presence of large icicles around the edge of your roof this winter, have a professional conduct an inspection of your attic for heat leaks or a lack of insulation. Common renovations, such as installing pot-lights in the ceiling or adding a bathroom fan, can really impact the warm air escaping into your attic. 

Need help with finding reputable contractors and service providers to help you maintain and protect your home?

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