What to Do If Your Basement Floods

Have you ever come home from work,

gone down into the basement to do your laundry and stepped into an awful puddle of water?

Basement flooding can happen quickly and without warning, especially in early or mid-spring after extensive or unusually fast snow melt. It can cause thousands of dollars in damage, both to your home as well as to all the items you may keep stored in the basement.

The good news is that there are a few things you can do to protect yourself from this type of flooding and associated costs. Here are some tips on how to manage basement flooding if it happens, and what you can do to prevent it.

Common Causes of Basement Flooding

Many in-home floods are a direct result of older pipes that are prone to breakage and leaks, and the basement is the most likely place for flooding to occur. Floods can also result from city sewage problems.

Climate change has been contributing to more extreme weather events, which means that we’re facing a greater risk of flooding not only on a national level but also on a local level.

Seasonal flooding, both on a global and local level, is becoming more and more common, especially in cold climates. For this reason alone, Toronto homeowners should take extra precautions to prevent flooding before it happens.

What to Do if Your Basement is Flooded

If you are facing severe flooding in your basement, it’s best to leave everything alone until you call a professional plumber as well as your insurance company.

However, if the flooding is minor or manageable, it’s still important that you take some extra precautions before entering the basement. You may be at risk of electrical shock, for instance, if the water level has risen higher than outlets or other electrical devices, as well as any devices powered by natural gas. Turn off the power breaker in your home if possible before entering the flooded area.

Ensure doors and windows are open, if possible, and evacuate the area. If you have a backwater valve, check to make sure it’s off. Take note of any electrical or gas hazards, as well as whether there may be any structural issues. Try to not use appliances in your home while the flooding is happening.

How to Prevent Your Basement from Flooding

What can you do to prevent your basement from flooding? Here are some tips.

•       Take extra steps to push snow away from the home and on a downward slope instead of piling it up against the house. As you do this, take note of the slope in various sections of your yard area.

•       Inspect pipe and drain systems thoroughly and make sure that your foundation is solid and that there are no cracks in lower walls and windows. This is especially important for older houses which may be more prone to foundation damage.

•       Install a sump pump. A sump pump can save you a ton of money in the long run as it is used to displace water during heavy weather events.

•       Install a backwater valve and know where it is. This is a valve that connects to the main line and can help prevent flooding from external sources.

Because spring warming is happening more quickly than ever, Toronto homeowners are facing a greater risk of sudden spring floods. Don’t wait until the flooding has already happened to safeguard your assets – contact a trusted plumber in the Greater Toronto area today.Call or message Drain Rescue Plumbers anytime for more information – we’re here to help!