Klein Basement Systems

It may be the middle of winter, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start thinking about spring. Your house should be prepared for every season and all of the weather changes they bring. Here in the northeast, when the ice and snow of winter melt away and the heavy rains of spring come rolling in, your house is at risk for damage from basement flooding, cracks in the foundation, a leaky roof and more. The best way to combat this is to weatherize your home to prepare it for the spring.

One of the first things you should do to prepare for spring rain and melting winter snow is clear out the gutters and downspouts. If they are clear, water will be able to pass through them and drain away from your home. Clogged gutters can cause water to drain down into the soil surrounding your foundation, which can result in a wet basement in Dunkirk, NY, or any of the surrounding areas. Getting a downspout extension and positioning it downhill away from your foundation will keep water moving away from your house.

“Gutters and downspouts should be cleaned three or four times a year,” writes Country Living. “In the spring, unclog before the first heavy rainfall, as soon as trees begin to shed leaves, flowers, and acorns.”

It’s common to experience basement floods in Dunkirk, NY, and the surrounding areas due to frequent snow and rain in the winter and spring. Dramatic temperature changes can also have an effect, like cold weather morphing quickly into warm weather, which can cause snow to melt fast and saturate the soil. When heavy rains fall on already saturated soil, this is when flooding will occur. Waterproofing your basement ahead of time can prevent basement flooding from spring rains. Use an interior drainage system set up around the perimeter along the floor with a high-powered sump pump in the lowest part that will pump the water up and out of the house.

Excessive cleaning is a common way for many to prepare for spring, but it doesn’t necessarily just mean emptying out closets and cleaning under dressers. Redbook recommends preventing dryer fires by clearing lint out of your dryer’s lint trap, connections and hosing, and then sweeping lint out from behind or underneath. Also, wipe down the back of the dryer with a damp rag, and pop off the hosing so you can stick a vacuum nozzle inside and clean out the lint. You can also vacuum the inside of the dryer and the front lint trap. It is also important to replace washing machine hoses with high-pressure ones that won’t burst to prevent a domestic water flood.

The spring is a good time to make sure all of the smoke, carbon monoxide, radon, and gas alarms are working properly. Press the "test" button on all of them and change the batteries as needed. However, if your alarm is wired to the wall the test button will only confirm that the electrical connection is active. You will still need to change the batteries. Redbook also recommends cleaning dust of smoke sensors with a damp cloth.

If you’re looking for a basement waterproofing contractor in Dunkirk, NY , or the surrounding areas, Klein Basement Systems can help you get your house ready for spring. They use patented products designed to tackle all basement waterproofing, drainage and moisture issues.