Spring Thaw Flooding Prevention

Outside the House

Remove snow from around your house with a shovel so that thawed snow will drain away from your home.

Check drainage around your home. Make sure melting snow has a clear path to flow off your property and remove any obstructions.

Ensure that storm drains down the street are not obstructed by debris and can move water freely.

Maintain gutters and downspouts. Blocked gutters and downspouts are likely to cause overflows and flooding.

Remove debris, ice and snow from roof drainage components so water can freely move away from your home.

Remove snow load from eaves and low sloped roofs with a roof rake to prevent ice damming.

If ice dams have formed, safely remove them or have them removed by professionals. You will want to have the roof inspected as soon as possible to ensure there has been no damage to the membrane for water to seep in.

Clear out window wells to remove any snow, dirt, leaves and other debris to prevent leaks through windows.

Inside the House

Test your sump pump to make sure it is working and have it repaired or replaced if necessary. If you don’t have one, consider contacting a qualified plumber to have a sump pit and pump installed.

Check the backwater valve and clean out any debris to ensure effective operation and protection. If you don’t have one, consider having a sewer backwater valve installed to help minimize the amount of water that could potentially enter your home through the floor drain causing flooding and damage.

Check floor drains in your basement to make sure they are unobstructed and working properly.

Have the basement foundation inspected for cracks and make any necessary repairs to prevent water from entering the home.

Install water alarms and flood sensors if your home is prone to flooding. These devices are designed to send an alert when they detect unwanted water in the home.

Relocate valuable or sensitive items such as documents or electronics to the upper levels of your home. If you can’t move items from the basement, raise them off the ground with pallets or store items on shelves.