Spring in South Dakota can be extremely unpredictable.
One day it’s 60 degrees and sunny, the next it’s a snowstorm. C’est la vie, right?
One thing we can predict is that the weather will eventually warm up. And when it does, all that snow will start to melt. And for some unfortunate souls, all that melted snow will seep right into their basement, causing some serious water damage in Sioux Falls.
In fact, a mere inch of water can cause more than $10,000 in house repairs. That’s a costly bill nobody wants to pay.
So how can you protect your basement from melting snow this spring?
Here’s what to do before (and after) the snow melts in South Dakota.
If the Snow Hasn’t Melted Yet
1. Clear Snow from Around Your Home
If you’re concerned about melting snow entering your house — well, the logical first step would be to remove it from the perimeter, right?
We hate to add even more time to your shoveling routine, but clearing a five-foot area around the foundation of your home is the best way to prevent melting snow from flooding your basement.
If you have any decks, driveways, or patios that slope toward your home, remember to clear those too!
2. Check Your Roof and Gutters
Your gutters are intended to keep water away from your house, so make sure they’re clean and tightly attached to the fascia.
If your gutters are broken or clogged, water will hit the ground with great force, causing erosion near your foundation. So get rid of as much snow, ice, and debris near your gutters as possible.
Learn How to Remove Ice Dams from the Edge of Your Roof
You may want to clear your roof as well if there’s a considerable amount of snow sitting on it. Be careful, though — not only is the process itself dangerous, but roof rakes can cause damage to your shingles. Hire a professional if you’re worried.
3. Make Sure Your Sump Pump Is Working
If you have a sump pump (find out here), that will be your best defense against house flooding in Sioux Falls.
However, sump pumps aren’t perfect. It’d be awful to count on your sump pump during a heavy rain, only to come home to a flooded basement because it stopped working.
To find out if your sump pump is in good shape, be sure to inspect and clean your sump pump regularly. Read the “Sump Pump Maintenance” part of this blog post to learn how to test your sump pump.
Discover the Four Main Causes of Sump Pump Failure
If you don’t have a sump pump, get one! Sump pumps are an important investment for any home in an area prone to heavy snow or rain (like South Dakota).
4. Fix Any Cracks in Your Foundation Walls
Take a quick walk around your house. Do you see any cracks in your foundation?
We know it’s cold out, but if you’re able to fix those cracks before South Dakota gets any more snow (and before that snow melts), you’ll be glad you did. You can buy an epoxy or sealing kit from a local hardware store to seal the cracks yourself, or you can hire a professional if you’re low on time (or confidence).
Bear in mind, though, that even if you have no visible cracks right now, concrete is porous. So if there’s enough water waiting outside your house, it could still seep into your basement.
5. Move Your Valuables to a Safe Location
Even if you take all the right preventative measures, it’s possible you could still be faced with water damage in Sioux Falls.
As an added precaution, move any valuable items or chemicals out of your basement — or at least off the floor.
It’s also a good idea to clear space around your water heater, furnace, washer/dryer, and any other basement appliances. Trust us, those are not cheap items to replace!
If Your Basement Has Already Flooded
Is all this information too little, too late?
If you’re already suffering from a flooded basement due to melting snow, please contact a professional service for water damage restoration Sioux Falls.
Water damage is a serious problem, and it’s not one you want to handle yourself. A flooded basement can not only damage your home and ruin your possessions, it can also cause mold to form, which in turn can spawn serious health issues.
At INTEK, we’ll keep your family safe by completely drying, cleaning, and restoring your home after a water damage incident.
We even provide construction services, professional painting, and expedited insurance claims to make the process as easy as possible!
