Protecting Your Home: Flood Prevention

It seems that the April showers and spring stormy season came a little late this year. Floods, tornadoes, hail, and rain–not what you usually think the month of May is made of. If there’s anything we Minnesotans know it’s that aside from the tame June, July, and August, weather in this town is generally unpredictable, usually worse than expected, and almost always a whole lot of trouble.
If you’ve paid any attention whatsoever to our blogs the past year, by now you will have gotten your sump pump checked, hooked up a battery powered sump pump back up, and most likely published a best-selling novel all about the wonders of the sump pump.

Now that we’ve got the most important part covered, here are a few other tips for this watery time of year:

-Going away for a long trip? Turn off your main water valve. That way if the unexpected happens while you’re gone you’ll still come back to a dry home.

-Have your roof expected every couple years to make sure there aren’t any leaks or potential problem areas.

-Always keep an eye out for water damage warning signs. Mold spots, discoloration, or flaking wall paper/paint could mean a leak somewhere you can’t see.

-Set up drain lines from your roof so that they pour away from your home, not towards the foundation.

-Check nearby drainage areas to make sure they’re not clogged with leaves and other debris. Even if they’re not directly connected to your home, back up in those areas can lead to a lot of residual damage.