Keeping Your Basement Dry this Summer

If you're like most people living in New England these days, the words heavy winds and rain are enough to start you packing and heading for higher, dryer climates.

In the past few months, we have been hit with severe storms powerful enough to cause massive power outages, downed trees and heavy flooding - not to mention thousands of flooded basements and the numerous problems that come with them.

Flooded basements and leaks are huge headaches for homeowners, but there are things you can do to minimize damage and cost when storms hit.

The following steps (taken from WikiHow.com) can help you prepare for summer's worst storms and keep your basement from turning into a swampy four-walled sponge.

PREVENTION - Look around your property for ways to divert rain water away from your home. Make sure your rain gutter downspouts are extended away from your home as well as the sloping grade of your yard.

CLEAN AND EXTEND RAIN GUTTER DOWNSPOUTS AWAY FROM THE HOME - Make sure your rain gutters are clean and free from debris, and do not connect downspouts to foundation footer drain tiles or underground dry wells - this will allow the ground around the basement to become even more saturated.

WALK AROUND OUTSIDE DURING A RAIN STORM - Grab an umbrella and head outside to check for ponding water and to see if surface water is being directed toward your house. Your yard may need to be re-graded.

PROVIDE EMERGENCY POWER - Purchase a generator for essential units like your furnace or electric heat, well pump, refrigerator, septic tank pump and sump pump. This will eliminate chances of finding your basement flooded.

INSTALL A SUMP PUMP AS WELL AS A BACK-UP SUMP PUMP - This is your first line of defense against basement flooding. These are still mechanical devices, however, and can still fail. Purchase a battery-operated pump as well and install a smart switch that will enable it to begin working if the other one is out of comission.

ADD FLOOD INSURANCE ONTO YOUR EXISTING HOMEOWNER'S POLICY - Flood insurance is provided by the government and is usually fairly low-priced. If your home insurance agent does not provide flood insurance, contact FEMA for local agencies that do.

Don't ever underestimate the chance of your basement flooding. This can happen in any home, regardless of how well you try and protect it. It is advisable to have a Warning System...even if you have back-up power, your basement can still flood. Home alarm and security companies can provide you with an alert to your cell phone or pager when your power goes out, or if your basement starts to flood. Be sure to carry emergency contact numbers for your plumber or electrician in the event of receiving an alert.

Have a happy and safe summer...and stay dry!