How to Prevent Basement Flooding in Oshawa Homes

How Can You Prevent Basement Flooding?

Although basement flooding in Oshawa homes is a consistent and common problem, there are also easy basement flooding solutions. But as they say, prevention is always better than cure. So, a ten-step guide to prevent basement flooding from occurring at the very first place is listed below.

Step 1: Installation of Sump Pump

One of the primary methods of preventing basement flooding is by installing a sump pump system. If one may not know, the installation of a sump pump system is always made at the very lowest part of your basement or crawl space area. The device works in a way that it pumps water away from the house into either a storm drain or dry well. Depending on the model type, you can either have it automatically pump the water away once it builds up or do it manually. Whatever the type of sump pump, the gist of this step is to have a sump pump installed.

Step 2: Sump Pump Maintenance

Immediately after you have installed the sump pump, care and maintenance of the system follow. These sump pump systems, while designed to handle the water economy in your home efficiently and effectively, do require periodical care and maintenance for their proper functioning.

The good news here is that with some advice from a drain and plumbing expert, you can easily take a basic care sump pump. If you require comprehensive care of this device, you can contact an expert like Everest Drain & Plumbing. The key aspect of this step is to keep the device operating at its peak performance so that it can aid during basement flood cleanup.

Step 3: Gutter Maintenance

When considering basement flooding in Oshawa homes, you should also note the condition of the gutters in the basements and around the house. This is because clogged gutters can lead to many issues, including basement flooding. When the rain comes, the clogged gutters prevent the rainwater from going down the drain. The waters then pool around the foundations, and some of them eventually end up in your basement. The solution to this cause of basement flooding is rather simple. All you need to do is keep your gutters clean and in good condition. The ideal time for cleaning your gutter is twice a year or once every six months. That said, if you live in areas with lots of trees in Oshawa, you may need to clean it more.

Step 4: Lawn Grading Advice

Besides detailing with gutters and sump pumps, you should also take some lawn grading advice. This essentially boils down to leveling and shaping the surface of your yard to provide proper drainage and improvements to the overall landscape. While doing this, you should ensure that the slope of the lawn is about six inches for every ten feet of landscape. Doing so ensures that water in your lawn flows away from your home and towards the drainage system. Needless to say, doing so helps keep your basement dry and avoid basement flooding in Oshawa altogether. If you are unsure about what to do, you can take the aid of professional landscapers. While you may need to spend a bit of money on this, it is still better than the basement flooding repair cost every season.

Step 5: Proper Landscaping

Along with implementing lawn grading advice to prevent basement flooding in Oshawa, you should also invest a bit in proper landscaping. This is relatively simpler than modifying the entire lawn, as you can follow some basic landscaping tips. Some of these tips include:

• Create swales (gentle slopes in your land) to channel the water away from your foundation.
• Install french drains
• Elevate planting areas to improve drainage and prevent excess water from pooling near the base of your home.
• Replace the concrete or asphalt pathways with gravel
• Plant trees and shrubs at least 10 feet away from your basement
• Add a minimum gap of six inches between the mulch and your foundation
• Install a rain barrel to reduce runoff and provide water for your gardens
• Maintain a healthy lawn as it can absorb more water and reduce runoff.

By implementing these landscaping tips, you can lower the chances of basement flooding.

Step 6: Seal Foundation Cracks

Along with the state of the lawn, one often ignored aspect of basement flooding is the condition of the basements. If your basement foundations and walls have cracks, there is naturally a higher chance of basement flooding. Even the smallest crack in the wall lets water in during heavy rainfall and causes the basement to be flooded. Cracks on the foundation walls and their foundations should be sealed. Besides, the periodic inspections will be helpful in the timely detection of new cracks or signs of water infiltration until the emergence of bigger problems.

Other options would involve waterproofing, which includes a sealant on the outside of the walls, or the installation of interior sump pumps to handle overflow water. The area will be dry and sealed, saving your home from flooding, mold growth, and structural damage so that eventually you have a safe and healthy place to live.

Step 7: Take Care of Recurring Plumbing Issues

Besides taking care of the basement foundation, you should also take care of plumbing issues around your basements. Small issues, such as minor pipe leakage, can quickly transform into much larger ones because even a small water leakage can cause massive damage if left unchecked. The good news here is that by taking care of minor and recurring plumbing issues periodically, you can prevent basement flooding when the rain comes.

Along with regular inspections, you should also consider regular maintenance on plumbing fixtures and pipes. The bottom line is that addressing these minor plumbing issues can save you a great deal of time and money over the long term. Also, it is a good idea to know where shut-off valves are located and that they work; this is often critical in case of a plumbing emergency. You can have a more proactive and attentive attitude to plumbing maintenance so that you’ll be setting up your home environment to be resilient, decreasing the likelihood of your basement flooding during heavy rains.

Step 8: Sewer Line and Septic Tank Maintenance

The other precaution that may be done in order to prevent the flood of water into Oshawa house basements would involve regular maintenance with regards to sewer and septic tank lines. Having your septic tank pumped as required keeps it from backup. Furthermore, keeping your sewer lines clean also prevents the signs of clogging from developing. This further prevents the liquid inside the sewer lines and septic tank from flowing backward and flooding your basement.

Besides, periodic maintenance with your sewer lines can even diagnose early-on possible blockages or damage so that one may be able to correct issues before they spiral out of control. Apart from regular cleaning, you could install backwater valves that may prevent sewage backup into your home if there is heavy rain or overloading of the system.

9. Backwater Valve Installation

Once you have maintained your sewer lines and your septic tank, another thing that you can do to prevent basement flooding in Oshawa is by installing a backwater valve. If you are unaware of what a backwater valve is, then you might want to know that a backwater valve is a divide used to help stop sewage and storm water from rushing back into your house. When this device is installed on the sewer line, it allows the wastewater to leave your home. Needless to say, a backwater valve should always be installed to protect the basement area of Oshawa against flooding. The main reason is that it will simply keep sewage and stormwater out of your house while averting water damage and growth of mold.

Because of all of these reasons, installing a backwater valve is essential for preventing flooding in the basement.

Step 10: Get a French Drain

A French drain is essentially a trench that is filled with gravel or rocks and contains perforated pipe. This form of drain is designed to redirect surface water and groundwater away from a specific area, typically the foundation of your house. From the definition of the French drain, you should easily guess why it is essential to install a French drain in your home.

Installing a french drain essentially takes the water away from your basement should your basement flood. This further prevents your basement from flooding. Needless to say, you first need to install a french drain properly. The good news here is that with a bit of practice and guidance, you can do it yourself.

Why Everest Drain & Plumbing for your Basement Flooding needs?

Now that you have a decent idea regarding what to do to prevent basement flooding in Oshawa, you may have queries regarding where you can get guidance regarding installing plumbing fixtures to prevent basement flooding. The good news here is that you can get the best services for this. One of the best places to get the best plumbers in Oshawa is Everest Drain & Plumbing. But why? Some of the key reasons why you should choose Everest Drain & Plumbing include:

• Our team has years of expertise in diagnosing and addressing basement flooding issues efficiently.
• We offer a wide range of services, including drain cleaning and sump pump installation to prevent future flooding.
• We provide 24/7 emergency support to tackle flooding issues quickly and minimize damage to your home.
• We use state-of-the-art technology to identify the root cause of the problem and offer long-term solutions.
• Our technicians are fully licensed and insured, ensuring high-quality, reliable service.
• We provide competitive pricing without compromising on quality, making basement flooding prevention and repair more accessible.
• We offer regular maintenance plans to help prevent future flooding and keep your drainage system in optimal condition.

Conclusion

If you live in Oshawa, basement flooding should not be a new issue for you. You may have dealt with this issue on your own as well. However, prevention is always better than cure, and rather than fixing the issue after basement flooding, you should focus on methods to prevent basement flooding in the first place. Now, there are many ways you can do this. Some of the methods to prevent basement flooding include installing a sump pump, maintaining the gutter, taking lawn grading advice and sealing foundation cracks.

In this blog, we provide you with some tips on how you can prevent basement flooding in Oshawa. We hope this helped. For more information on the various aspects of plumbing, do refer to some of our other blogs. And if you are looking for the best in town plumbing and drainage services in Oshawa, Canada, then there’s no better option than that of Everest Drain & Plumbing.

FAQs On Basement Flooding

How do you prevent basement flooding during heavy rain?

You can prevent basement flooding by implementing the methods below:

• Installing and maintaining a sump pump
• Maintaining your gutter
• Implementing lawn grading advice
• Landscaping properly
• Sealing foundation cracks
• Taking care of recurring plumbing issues
• Maintaining sewer lines and septic tanks
• Adding a backwater valve
• Getting a french drain

Why does my basement flood during heavy rain?

Common culprits of flooded basements when heavy rains occur include poor drainage around the home, clogged gutters, cracks in the foundation, overwhelmed sewer lines, and a malfunctioning sump pump.

How do I keep rainwater out of my basement?

You can keep rainwater out of your basement by one of the following methods or a combination of: rerouting downspouts away from your foundation, installing window well covers, applying waterproof sealant to the foundation walls, and making sure proper drainage of your yard is in place.

How long does it take to fix a flooded basement?

Repairing a flooded basement may take anywhere from just a few hours to days, or even weeks. This is due to the seriousness of the flooding in that area and the repairs that may need to be done on top of just drying out.

Will my insurance cover the cost of a flooded basement?

Insurance coverage for a flooded basement depends on your policy. Most standard home insurance policies do not take care of flood damage, but you can go through the particular policy to see if it covers flood or water damage.

Are there any long-term effects of a flooded basement?

Yes, there are long-term effects of a flooded basement. Some of the long-term flooded basements include:

• Structural damage
• Mold growth
• Weakened foundation
• Damage to personal belongings
• Damage to electrical systems