Basement floods happen without warning. If your home has a basement, then it can happen to you. It does not matter if it has never flooded in your area before. Because although it is true that most basement floods occur during rapid snowmelts or during rainy seasons, one can still occur during a very dry weather.
A number of things can cause basement floods. They can be caused by seepage or leak through the walls, floors, sewer backups, and of course, surface water sources. Basements are very susceptible to flooding because they are, after all, the lowest level of a property (either entirely or just partly below ground level).
For you to be able to avoid or deal with basement flooding, you have to understand first, why they occur.
LOCATION
Among the common causes of basement flooding is your home’s location. Most probably, your property was built on an unsuitable location. You see, residential properties are often built on sloped terrains to allow water to drain. If your house is on the lower part, then it is highly probable that you’ll experience flooding quite frequently.
POOR DRAINAGE SYSTEM
If the drainage system has been improperly installed, it can easily lead to leaks. If your house’s downspouts are placed too close to your basement walls, they could overload the weeping tile and eventually cause basement leaks. The ideal direction of downspouts is towards the yard or the street and never towards your basement walls (or the neighbour’s for that matter).
SUBSTANDARD WALL AND FLOOR SEALING
Another reason for basement floods is the substandard quality of the sealing of your walls and floors. If, for example, your basement tiles were not properly sealed when the house was built, water will seep through easily – especially during extreme weather conditions. So if you often experience basement floods during heavy downpours, you should have the sealing checked and fixed, if necessary.
CLOGGED GUTTER SYSTEM
If the manifold that connects your house to the public sewer system gets clogged, a basement flood can happen. If this happens, inform the concerned local authorities at once as the water levels could quickly rise, resulting to even more disastrous results for your home’s foundation.
Those are some of the most common causes of a basement flood. So how do you avoid the disaster? Easy. Clean your gutters on a regular basis. Inspect your basement often and have any cracks repaired. Also, check the windows of your basement to make sure that the frames are not yet rotten.
If floods in your basement occur regularly, then it might be a good idea to have a sump pump installed. If you need professional assistance whether it is to help you make sure you don’t experience a basement flood or to deal with one that has just happened, call Hayes Plumbing and we’d gladly help!
