Water damage can happen to anyone. It doesn’t matter how careful you are; water will find its way into your house if the weather is bad enough. However, there are some things that you can do to prevent it from happening in the first place! In this blog post, we will go over some things you can do to reduce the risk of water damage in your basement. Some steps are expensive and time-consuming, while others are affordable and easy to do – all of them will help protect your house from this terrible damage.
Below is a list of 9 things that you could do around your home to prevent water damage:
Check for water pipes and water lines
Check all the plumbing around your home, inside and outside walls. Pipes can freeze or wear out over time, which will cause water to leak into your basement. The worst thing is that this damage can be easily prevented by simply keeping an eye on these pipes. Look for any sign of leakage, especially around the joints, and have them fixed right away if necessary. If you haven’t done so already, make sure you insulate these outside lines to prevent the water from freezing. You can also call waterproofing companies Pittsburgh for a consultation.
Cover your windows with plastic sheets
Putting plastic on windows during winter storms is a great way to prevent water damage. If you have basement windows without proper sealing, this is an easy way to stop the water from getting in. Even better – install basement windows with good water-tight seals to avoid this altogether!
Install a sump pump in the basement
A sump pump is an electrical device that pumps water out of your basement. If you live in an area known for flooding, or if the soil around your house drains poorly, it’s probably a good idea to install one of these. It’s worth noting that these pumps can be expensive, but they will pay for themselves if they save your basement from flooding even once. If you want to go the extra mile, put in a backup pump as well. Waterproofing Pittsburgh companies offer these pumps as well.
Seal around the foundation with tar or caulk
Exterior waterproofing is essential – if you don’t block off any cracks and crevices, water will come into your basement that way. If you have a wet spot in your yard (caused by poorly draining soil), it’s probably a good idea to fix it as well. If you don’t want to invest in a sump pump, consider putting waterproofing paint on the outside of your foundation wall. You can even do this yourself if you feel confident enough, but it’s probably a better idea to hire a waterproofing companies Pittsburgh.
Keep the ground around your basement clear of trees.
If your yard is full of trees, they will drop leaves at some point every year – for this reason, you should either plant bushes or choose evergreen trees instead. Leaves are excellent absorbers of water – they will soak up a lot of the water that rains down in your yard, which makes it more likely for your foundation wall to get wet! Make sure you clean your gutters and roof to prevent this problem.
Fix water leaks as soon as you find it
The best way to prevent water damage is to fix it before starting. If you see a leak, call your plumber as soon as possible and get it fixed! Even if the problem isn’t that big yet, putting off fixing it for too long could result in thousands of dollars worth of damage.
Put insulation on your basement walls.
Insulating the outside of your foundation wall will help keep it warm, which will prevent cracks. This way, any possible water leaks (such as those caused by poorly draining soil) will not be able to get in. Insulation also helps reduce heating costs – making it worth the investment!
Avoid using your basement if you can
If your basement is not finished, or even if it’s just more comfortable to go someplace else, keep in mind that some water damage is better than mold! If you have any wet spot caused by poor drainage that you haven’t fixed yet, use the floor above instead – this is a much less likely place for mold to grow.
Video monitoring is key!
No matter how great you are about keeping your basement dry, there’s always a chance that water can sneak in from somewhere – this is why you should consider installing security cameras in the basement. If a leak does occur, you’ll be able to see where it’s coming from and fix the problem before it causes any damage!
Keeping your basement dry is essential if you want to avoid water damage, mold, and all sorts of other problems!
