A flooded basement is one of the most common causes of water damage in the home. Fortunately, it is also one of the most preventable. While you can’t completely flood-proof your home, there are things that you can do to keep water out. Other things can minimize the damage if water does come in. Check out these tips from RestorePro Inc to learn what you can do to prevent basement flooding.

Flood-Proofing Tips

Water in the basement is usually a result of heavy rain, overflowing rivers or streams, or plumbing failure. While you can’t completely prevent any of these, you can definitely reduce your risk.

1. Keep your foundation in good repair. If you have cracks in your foundation, water can seep into the basement. Have any defects repaired as soon as you notice them.
2. Winterize your plumbing. As the water in pipes freeze and thaw, it expands and contracts. Homes that are vacant are the most vulnerable during the winter, because the heat isn’t running to keep the pipes from freezing. However, during really cold weather any plumbing is at risk, especially if located inside exterior walls. Protect your pipes by upgrading your insulation, leaving a faucet dripping, and installing exterior faucet covers. If your home will be vacant, you can drain your pipes by turning off the water to the entire home and then opening the taps.
3. Often water enters basements after a heavy rain. The best way to prevent this is by making sure your home has proper lot grading. If your home is vulnerable, there are a variety of measures that can help to channel water away from your foundation: french drains, retaining walls, and drainage ditches move water to where you want it to go.

Minimizing Damages

Since there is no way to guarantee your basement will never flood it’s a good idea to try to minimize the damage if water does get in. You can protect your belongings and keep your financial losses to a minimum.

1. If you are storing things in your basement, use shelves to raise them up from the floor. Waterproof storage bins can further protect your belongings.
2. If you have fine art, valuable antiques, or important paperwork, consider storing them off site in a safe location. A safe deposit box is a great idea for smaller items, and there are many affordable and secure climate-controlled storage centers if you need more space.
3. If you choose to finish the basement and turn it into a living space, opt for inexpensive materials and furnishings. If the basement later floods, your financial losses will be much lower than if you use high-end items.

In any situation, you should make sure that you have adequate insurance coverage and you understand your policy. If your basement does flood, call on the property restoration experts at RestorePro Inc. With nearly two decades of experience in fire damage restoration, water damage restoration, and mold remediation, our highly trained professionals can help to get your home back to pre-event condition in no time. Give us a call at 1-800-847-0114 and see what we can do for you.