How to Prevent Basement Flooding

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Many homeowners have had the misfortune of having to deal with their basement flooding. With the amount of rain that the GTA has been getting lately (remember when the Don Valley Parkway flooded twice within a month?), a high number of residents have been subject to wet carpets, fried electronics and foundational damage. The good news is that there are some practical preventative measures that you can take to avoid basement flooding.

Common Causes of Basement Flooding

Apart from natural disasters like river flooding ¬– which as a homeowner you can’t control – basement flooding is most likely to occur during periods when there is a higher than normal volume of water on the ground, such as during heavy rainfall or when snow and ice melting quickly. Under these circumstances, your basement may flood due to:

• Cracks or leaks in basement walls
• Improperly graded lots
• Faulty weeping tiles
• Overflowing eaves troughs
• Plugged and leaky downspouts

Sometimes, basement flooding is a result of other factors in your home, like blocked sewer connections or failure of a sump pump.

Protecting your Home against Basement Flooding

Many of the common causes of basement flooding can be mitigated by taking actions that fix issues before they become costly. The following are some steps you may want to consider taking to make your home less susceptible:

1) Make Sure Your Plumbing is Well Maintained

Like many other aspects of your home, plumbing requires maintenance in order to properly function. Basement flooding is often a result of breaks, leaks and bursts in pipes. Aging plumbing systems, punctures in pipes, and frozen piping are all issues that can be mitigated by ensuring that your home’s plumbing is well-maintained.

2) Check Lot Grading, Eavestroughs and Downspouts

An easy and highly effective way to protect your home against basement flooding is to look for ways to divert water away from your home. Make sure that your lot is graded downward and away from your house, extend rain gutter downspouts, and keep eavestroughs clean so that they don’t overflow.

3) Install A Sump Pump

If you don’t already have one, installing a sump pump is a great way to protect against basement flooding. Automatic sump pumps help remove water that has built up in a sump basin and prevents too much water from building up in your basement. Essentially, it acts like a large floor drain, diverting water away from your home.

A Marco Plumbing: Your Basement Flooding Solution

At A Marco Plumbing, we provide full basement waterproofing, plumbing installation and plumbing repairs. Among many other services, we offer:
• Drain repairs below and above ground
• Sump pumps and sewage pumps
• Frozen piping repairs
• Full drain service
• Pipe relining and water line services
Ready to protect your home against basement flooding? Contact us today!