You love living in the Midwest. The climate is colder in the fall and winter, but also warm and enjoyable during the spring and summer. You enjoy working in your yard during the springtime, or perhaps you simply like to sit outside and enjoy the smells and sounds of an oncoming rainstorm.
However, like most homeowners, you know that floods are more likely to occur during this time of year. Do you know if your home and property are at risk for flooding? Read on to learn about six factors that increase your risk for experiencing a flood.
Your Drainage System
If your home’s drainage system wasn’t installed properly, you could experience more leaks. And if those leaks go undetected, you could face a flood later on.
Your downspouts should be more than ten feet away from your basement wall, and they should drain away from your home towards your yard or the street. If your drainage system doesn’t meet these criteria, then you’re at a higher risk for flooding. Talk to Safeguard Waterproofing as soon as possible to see what you can do to adjust this issue.
Your Lawn’s Slope
Most yards are a little uneven. The Midwest often boasts slightly hilly or slope-filled yards. But if your lawn slopes towards your home, it provides a perfect route for water to flow down towards your home, build up there, and then pool under it.
Safeguard can install a yard drainage system for your yard,. This will reduce your risk for floods and provide you with a more useable yard as well.
Your Driveway’s Evenness
The evenness of your driveway matters just as much as the slope of your lawn. Again, driveways that slope towards your home provide a perfect path for water to stream down. Additionally, cracks and breaks in the concrete or asphalt cause the driveway to become more uneven. This damage may even make the driveway slope more than normal.
Talk to a Safeguard and have them repair or replace your driveway. Ask them to make the structure as even as possible. Additionally, you’ll want the end of the driveway to slope towards your neighborhood’s storm drains.
Your Foundation’s Age and Condition
Your home may have developed cracks, holes, or other types of damage. These cracks and holes more easily allow rainwater to leak inside your home, further increasing your risk for flooding.
Have a the professional’s at Safeguard inspect your home’s foundation and assess it for damage. If necessary, make repairs and have the foundation sealed to protect against water damage. Even if you have a relatively new home with a new foundation, you should have this portion of your home inspected regularly.
Your Home’s Gutters
You know your home’s gutters drain rain off your roof, let it flow towards a tube on the side of your home, and drain it into your yard. But if any part of the gutter system is dirty or clogged, it can’t drain water properly. That water will just sit in the gutters and build up until it breaks through your home. If the rain levels are too high, your home could then flood as a result.
Clean your gutters regularly. Remove all debris from every component of the system. You should also wash out the gutters to eliminate dirt that may have accumulated inside them.
Your Home’s Location
Your home’s location plays a huge role in determining your risk for floods. For example, homes on the coast tend to flood more often than homes in a landlocked area. While your neighborhood likely isn’t anywhere near the coast, your area could still be in a high-risk zone for flooding.
To determine if you are in a low- or high-risk flood zone, use FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center. This tool looks at a given area and determines an area’s risk based on the following factors:
- Flooding history
- Location to water sources
- Rainfall history
- Projected rainfall for the season
Simply put in your address or town into the search bar to view the flood map. This site also has resources to help you clearly understand the map readings.
If your property and home are at risk for flooding based on the factors listed above, contact the waterproofing professionals at Safeguard immediately. Their experts can assess your yard, home, and nearby areas to determine how great your risk for flooding is. Then, they can make repairs in your home and waterproof your basement to protect you from potential flood damage.
Want additional tips on how to prevent basement flooding? GIve us a call at (847) 603-4048 or learn more about solutions like sump pumps or crawlspace waterproofing.
Want additional tips on how to prevent basement flooding? Give us a call at (847) 603-4048 or learn more about solutions like sump pumps or crawlspace waterproofing.
