Spring has sprung, which means it’s time to pack up your parka and check for basement leaks. We have a few simple items to check each spring as the ground thaws that can help catch leaks early, prevent extensive basement water damage and keep your socks dry!
Sump Pump
Sump pumps play an essential role in keeping your basement dry, especially when it is prone to flooding. Within the City of Edmonton, a sump pump has been a building requirement since 1988. Make sure to inspect your sump pump, the plug-in, and the drainage system. If you are unsure, have someone check it for you.
Not only should you check the sump pump, but the areas around it as well, see if there is any sitting water. If you do not have a sump pump in your home, make sure you have a drainage system in place as water can collect quickly.
Sump Pump Discharge Hose
During the winter months the hose for the sump pump discharge should be removed to prevent freezing. If you have taken off your sump pumps discharge line (i.e., hose) now is the time to reinstall it. The discharge line should be placed on a slope that is a minimum of five-degrees. The degree of slope will help prevent water from pooling around the foundation of your property.
Backwater Valves
Backwater valves keep sewer backflows from entering your home, acting as a one-way valve. This is very important to keep water and other waste away from your basement. You can perform backwater valve maintenance yourself, but if you are at all unsure about what to look for, we can do an inspection.
Hot Water Heater
Your hot water heater has worked hard during the winter months; so it should be checked to see if there are any water leaks and if the heater is working overall. If it is leaking, you should contact a hot water heater repair company for help and get it sorted out as soon as possible.
Basement Windows
Damaged caulking or cracks in the window can be a common cause of basement flooding. This allows water to leak into the basement from the outside. Look for pooling water inside the home, below the window or outside the home in the window wells. If you have water pooling in your window wells, they may be draining improperly and should be fixed as soon as possible.
Fixtures
Even small leaks can cause basement water damage. Check the faucets and taps in your basement and see if they are leaking. Fixing this could save the walls and floors in your home, as well as money on your water bills!
Eavestroughs and Downspouts
It’s not a fun job to clean out your eavestroughs, but if they are clogged or broken, they can cause overflow and flooding in and around the base of your home. Make sure the downspouts are well connected and directed away from your home. If they are pointed towards, or close to your home base, it can cause excessive flooding.
Foundation
It’s hard to inspect the condition of your foundation when snow is covering it. Once melted, make sure to get a close inspection of the foundation both outside your home and in your basement. Look for cracks, damage and even mould. If you find anything, make sure to have this fixed right away.
If you suspect that there is already a water leak in your basement, there are a few indicators to look for. This includes but is not limited to
- dampness or brown stains on the walls or ceiling,
- mould or mildew, water stained, cracked, warped or damp flooring,
- rust stains, or
- musty odour.
Many basement leaks can be avoided by being proactive. Checking for water leaks in and around your home in a timely manner is essential to prevent basement water damage. Contact us today to waterproof your basement!
Do You Have a Leaky Basement? Contact K. Kuypers Construction
If you’ve already identified some big issues, contact us today! We’ve been proudly providing professional, expert service in basement waterproofing, basement crack repairs and foundation repairs to our Edmonton customers since 1954!
Testimonial:
Dear Kevin, I am just writing to thank you for the job that you did on our basement last fall. If anything was going to be a test of a waterproofing job on a basement, this past winter was it. Who would have thought that you would need a sump pump in Edmonton in January, and February ?!?!?! The last week or so this thing has been working overtime keeping us from floating away in all the snowmelt. My neighbours say thanks too, as I’m helping keep them dry too! Your crew was great, fast, efficient, cleaned up the site well, and our basement has been dry ever since. We could actually notice a difference almost right away as the wet earth was not in contact with our basement any more. By far the best money that we’ve spent on our house since moving in! I have a couple of friends who have recently bought houses in established neighbourhoods, and have told them that if they have a wet basement, you’re the people in town to call to get it fixed. Thanks again,PS: I actually heard about you (Kuypers Construction) from a colleague who had the previous generation of you guys do his basement a number of years ago and has been dry ever since – James H.