Reducing Flood Risks at Home
Above: learn some tips and tricks from handyman Gus Gnorski on how to defend your basement from rain and melting snow.
Make Sure You Have Proper Grading Around Your Home
One of the simplest things you can do to help keep water out of your basement is to make sure the dirt next to your home is pitched, or sloped away from your house.
You should have a one inch drop for every foot that you move away from your basement.
Get a four foot level and place one end against the house. At the other end of the level, measure up four inches from the ground and place that end of the level at the four inch mark. Check the bubble for level. If it's level, your good to go. If not, add more dirt and measure again.
Extend Downspouts Away From Your Basement
Make sure the downspouts on your house are extended at least six feet to ten feet away from your basement. Every downspout can deliver up to 12 gallons of water a minute during a heavy storm, water you do not want causing damage to your basement.
Get a Backup System For Your Sump Pump
When you lose power at home, your sump pump becomes useless, unless you have a backup system. Battery backup systems can buy you enough time to get a generator running, or to borrow a generator for longer periods without power.
Consider Buying Flood Insurance
Flood insurance is for more than those who live directly next to a river or lake. Everyone is at risk of flooding.
Here are some helpful links with more information about flood insurance:
FloodSmart.gov
http://floodsmart.gov