You can pick up sandbags from our City yards at 960 Thomas Avenue to protect your home from snow melt beginning Monday, April 10.
As winter melts away, homeowners need to protect their basement from potential flooding caused by melting snow and ice. Failure to prepare your home can result in water damage, which can lead to structural damage, mold growth, and other issues.
The City of Winnipeg advises residents to protect their homes by clearing snow away from their foundation and removing snow from window wells. Homes that are not protected by a backwater valve or sump pit drainage system are at greater risk of basement flooding. If you have a backwater valve and sump pit drainage system, make sure to check and maintain them regularly.
If your home is on a hill or grade, shovel snow so that it doesn’t roll towards your home when it melts. Ensure melting snow flows away from your home, instead of towards it, by keeping drainage areas around your home clear of snow and ice build-up. Inspect basement walls for cracks and caulking around windows, making repairs as necessary to prevent water from entering your basement.
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In addition to keeping snow away from the foundation, it is essential to clear gutters and downspouts of any debris to ensure that runoff from rainwater and melting snow will drain away from the foundation walls. If you don’t have a sump pump or it’s time for a replacement, install a powerful sump pump for the basement and crawl space to help prevent flooding.
Most homeowners don’t realize they have a problem with their sump pump until their basement is flooded. If your home doesn’t have a sump pump or it’s time for a replacement, install powerful sump pumps for the basement and crawl space. Along with an effective sump pump, a basement drainage system should be installed to protect your basement from flooding.
If you want to minimize potential damage to your belongings in case water enters your basement, you can take some simple steps to adjust how you store them. One way is to lift appliances like washers, dryers, and freezers off the floor using blocks of wood, so they don’t get damaged by water. Keep in mind that backups may result in less than a few inches of water. It’s also a good idea to avoid storing your items in cardboard boxes directly on the floor. Instead, try to store them on a shelf or in plastic totes if you can. This will help protect them from water damage and keep them safe.
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