Beating Basement Flooding

START REDUCING YOUR RISK OF BASEMENT FLOODING

The first step in dealing with basement flooding comes from minimizing the risk through a few precautions:

• Reduce home water use during heavy rains.
• Keep the storm sewer grates on your street clear of yard waste, leaves, garbage, ice and snow.
• Clean and maintain your eavestroughs and downspouts at least once a year.
• Store anything expensive, valuable or irreplaceable upstairs.

Of course, if you have had water in your basement in the past, more significant steps are needed to protect your home. While it may seem onerous, here’s a few reasons why you should give it some serious thought:

• If water has gotten into your home before, unless you take action, it can get in again.
• Finished basements used as living space may have more furniture and expensive electronics, increasing the risk for potential damage.
• Overland flood damage is not covered by most home insurance policies. A small expense now can save you a lot of money in case of a flood.
• Floods can cause mould to grow, which can result in negative long-term health impacts on your family.
• Homes in older neighbourhoods are usually more vulnerable than homes in newer neighbourhoods.
• Climate change experts report that severe rain storms are occurring more often in many parts of Canada, and they are expected to continue to increase in frequency and severity.