Spring is notorious for its unpredictable weather. To ensure that you and your home are protected during the rainy season, we are providing five tips on how to prepare for the spring thaw and prevent water damage. 

  1. Check your home’s drainage – to prevent flooding you must keep water away from the foundation of your home. This is best done with the assistance of a sump pump. A sump pump protects your basement from flooding by transporting excess water around your home’s foundation safely outside. If you already have a sump pump, make sure it is clean, the intake valve is clear, and the system is properly working. 
  2. Maintain gutters and downspouts – ensure that they are not filled with debris. Remove leaves, ice, and snow so water can move freely away from your home. Backed up gutters and downspouts are likely to cause overflows and flooding.
  3. Install water alarm and flood sensors. These devices are designed to send an alert when unwanted water is detected in the home. This can be extremely helpful to secondary Cape homeowners that may not live in their homes full-time.
  4. Rearrange items in the basement. Relocate sensitive, important items to upper levels of your home or move them onto shelves or pallets. By elevating your valuable items, you lower the risk of them getting damaged in unexpected floods.
  5. Reevaluate your homeowner’s insurance policy. Most homeowners’ policies do not include flood damage, so make sure you have adequate coverage. It is important to purchase this protection separately, if necessary. 

Most importantly, if you do experience any water damage or flooding, be sure to contact Whalen Restorations as soon as possible. For more information on our water damage restoration services, click here.