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There are all kinds of ways that houses can become flooded. Basements, in particular, are especially vulnerable to water damage and flooding. Although you can have preventive measures in place to decrease the likelihood of flooding, there is no fool-proof way to guarantee that water will not come into your basement. While there are certain factors that will put your home more at risk, there are a few things you can do to prevent or protect your home from major water damage in your basement. 

Common Causes of Basements Floods

The basements are the lowest level of the house and because of that they are more prone to being flooded. With the basement being below ground level, water damage from flooding is more likely to happen there than any other part of your house. This can cause a considerable amount of damage to not only your house but to any of your personal property you may have down there. Some common causes of basement flooding include:

  • Home appliances malfunctioning – such as air conditioning units, washing machines, and dishwashers
  • Lawn not graded away from the house
  • Gutters not properly cleaned and/or aimed away from the house
  • Pipe valves rusted, burst or melted
  • Leaving a faucet on or dripping
  • Living near a river or body of water that is prone to flooding

Preventative Maintenance

In the event that your home does flood, the damage could be severe – which is why preventative maintenance is so important to protecting your home from a basement flood. Identifying what needs to be changed to prevent flooding is a crucial first step. In the attempt to protect your home from a basement flood, Tobin Restoration says this:

  • Check your basement every single day
  • Do regular maintenance specifically replacement of basement pipes (contact us to request to have a professional team member come take a look and make recommendations on how to maintain your home and protect it against major fire/flood)
  • Keep your valuables in rubber totes instead of cardboard boxes
  • Installing and maintaining a sump pump (collects water and pumps it outside)
  • Clean out your gutters on a regular basis and repair them if they become damaged
  • Caulk and weatherstrip around any openings in your basement to prevent water from getting inside

Preparation Can Go a Long Way 

The basement is definitely one of the most vulnerable places in your house and a little bit of preparation can go a long way. By checking your basement regularly, and putting some of these preventative measures in place, you are able to better protect home from any costly damage that might occur due to flooding. It will be well worth your time to implement some of these measures to help protect your home. Flooding is something that many homeowners have to deal with but taking these steps will go a long way when it comes to having a dry basement. Tobin Restoration can help you effectively prepare for times of emergency, aid in taking those steps to help properly maintain your home, and assist in times of flooding.