That's not all. Floods. Heavy rainfalls and accelerated melting snow are only some of the causes. Add blocked sewers and over saturated ground and water starts looking for the easy way to go. Low lying areas around your home, depressions around your foundation, window wells and even basements all become the next retention ponds. Not to mention, if you live within the reach of the deep tunnel project, you are at the whim of a bureaucrat to decide if the flood control valves in your area should open or stay shut.
Rain or shine, massive snow melt or drought, no matter what the media chooses to spout this week, massive amounts of water is in our future. It might not be this year, or even your neighborhood but you will know someone affected. Water damage plays no favorites. From seepage in basement corners to roof leaks, water creates damage. Your home doesn't have to have major damage to be devastating. Lower level carpets can soak up small amounts of water and not be noticed, allowing mold and mildew to grow. Card board boxes and papers act like sponges. Family pictures and documents may be destroyed long before you ever know of a problem.
The Best Defense Is A Good Offence!
All that can be done against Mother Nature's tantrums is to make sure you have done everything possible before hand.
All self-defense starts with being aware of your surroundings. Do you know the water path around your home? Don't worry, most people don't. The easiest way to start is to go to the street and look for the sewer openings. Water will flow towards the drain. Now you know the basic direction. Why is this important? Any time you move water, it's easier if you don't fight gravity. (sump pumps that eject water uphill will have to pump the same water again and again) (I know that seemed like a real DUH! moment but I had to actually have that discussion with a waterproofing salesman.)
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Now that you know where you want the water to go, where is it coming from. Is your neighbors water runoff going past your property or just ending there? Are your gutters and down spouts clean? Does the down spouts run rain water at least five feet away from the foundation? Sump pump ejection port pushes the water far enough away? Window wells are six inches higher than the grade? Understanding where the water could be coming from can help figure the way to keep it out.
Big Cures Don't Always Cost Big Dollars
Keeping the water away from your home is the best way to keep it out.
Water is somewhat lazy. Water will always follow the path of least resistance. The goal is to make your home water-resistant. Give the water better options.
Gutters and down spouts have to be kept clean. Extensions to down spouts help flow water further away from foundations. If your downspouts are plugged, the water spills over the gutters and drops right next to your foundation.
Landscaping should also aid in moving water away. Grade should drop away from your home at the rate of one inch down for every foot away. Each situation is different but so is the landscaping options. Swales and berms can be used to help direct water flow. Not to mention add distinction to your landscape. Little note: plants and ground cover should always be used to fight soil erosion.
Sump pumps should also drain away from the home. Too many people end sump ejection pipes 6 to 8 inches from the house. The water from the pump starts to find ways to follow the foundation wall down. The best case is you are just re-pumping the same water. (Not the best case????????)
Sump pumps are your last line of defense. Once the water starts putting pressure against the foundation, it will find a way in. Sump drain tiles/pipe are better on the outside of the foundation footing, again keeping the water out. Inside the foundation footing fall under the something is better than nothing category. At least interior drain tiles/pipes relieves some pressure on the basement floor but almost nothing for water pressure against the foundation walls.
All these lines of defense (except the drain tiles around the inside of the footing) have one thing in common, they keep the water from entering your home. Keep in mind, if you're considering the DIY patches sold at local super stores or hiring a company with their miracle epoxies and wonder paint coatings, if you do not remove the water pressure from outside eventually the water will penetrate back into your basement. As a matter of fact, some companies actually count on the repeat business using "see that's a new leak cause our patch held".
Patching from outside and then tarring or coating over the patch will last longer due to the water pressure is pressing against the patch. Inside patches and coating have the pressure pushing out. Pushing a cork in tighter (outside patch) holds tighter and longer than the pressure pushing the cork out (inside patch). Patching and interior coatings should be considered short-term and not an investment in a fix.
Mother Nature is very patient and determined. (Grand Canyon all done with a little water) We will never win the battle against weather, the best we can do is not lose.
The battle to stay dry doesn't have to be difficult, help is only a call away. I can help evaluate what needs to be done, then list your options to get the work done. (by the correct professionals if necessary.) We have been doing this for years for our frugal clients, eliminating the anxiety that a handyman won't cause more damage than repair. Follow us on Facebook, John Sesnka and Sons Inc. or contact us @ info@enrsl.com
I hope all you get from all the moisture this Spring is a beautiful Garden!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8357988
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