How To Make Sure Your Home Is Prepared For The Upcoming Winter

Fall is the time to get your house in shape before the colder months arrive. A leaky basement or crawl space is more than an inconvenience. Water and moisture can lead to mold and mildew growth, attract pests, and cause structural damage. Here are some home maintenance tips to keep your basement throughout winter.

Exterior Maintenance

Cracks in basement walls and poor drainage around the foundation contribute to a wet basement. The following tips will keep water from getting in.

• Check for foundation cracks and caulk around areas where wires or pipes enter the house and where masonry meets siding to prevent heat from escaping. Openings in the foundation let water into the basement. These can lead to larger cracks, mold growth, and water damage. If; you notice a crack bigger than ¼-inch wide, bulging walls, or windows and doors that are hard to open and close, call a professional for a foundation inspection.
• Clean out gutters and downspouts after leaves have fallen, inspect joints, and tighten brackets if necessary. Clogged gutters are a leading cause of wet basements and crawl spaces. Leaves, sticks, and other debris in your gutters and downspouts prevent rainwater and melting snow from flowing through the gutter system. In those regions of the country with significant amounts of snowfall and extended periods of freezing temperatures, ice dams are common. They form when snow on the roof melts and refreezes at the edge of the roof, preventing the water from draining off the roof. The water that backs up behind the ridge of ice (ice dam) can get under the shingles, leak into the attic, and cause damage to walls, ceilings, insulation, and belongings.
• Consider replacing old or damaged gutters with seamless gutters that have built-in leaf guards. Downspouts should drain water at least four feet away from the foundation, so add downspout extensions if necessary.
• Clean out basement window wells and double-check that there isn't standing water in them to prevent the water from leaking into the basement. Install window well covers that allow light to enter while keeping out water, leaves, and pests. If your window wells fill up with water, you need to clean your gutters, extend downspouts, and fix poor grading to prevent water from pooling near the basement windows and foundation.

Interior Maintenance

Because basements are below grade, they tend to be humid, damp, or wet. Water from melting snow and ice can get into the basement, causing damp basement walls, puddles of water, or - worst case scenario - flooding. Before the first frost sets in, follow these guidelines to help keep your basement dry.

• Check for signs of water leaks or excess moisture in the basement. The most obvious signs of a problem are puddles of water or a musty smell. Other symptoms to keep an eye out for are mold and mildew, rotted wood, peeling paint, white chalky stains, soggy cardboard boxes, and damage to furniture and items stored in the basement.
• Check basement windows for drafts loose frames or cracked panes. Apply caulk around the frame to seal air leaks. If your basement windows are old, rotted, rusted, or cracked, replace your windows.
• Check the sump pump to ensure it’s in good working condition. A sump pump helps prevent rainwater and melting snow and ice from entering your basement. Before the first frost sets in, make sure your sump pump is connected to power and turned on. Invest in a generator or a battery backup system if you live in an area with frequent storms and power outages - sump pumps only work if there’s power. Check the discharge line for obstructions. Make sure water can drain out of your pump’s discharge line if it becomes blocked with snow or ice - consider installing the IceGuard system. Perform model-specific maintenance to your sump pump and battery backup as needed or call a professional for service.
• Check for signs of pest activity, including rodents, roaches, snakes, and other unwanted pests that are attracted by pooling water. A leak in the basement also increases humidity. Excessive humidity will lead to structural damage. Check the grading around your home and your downspouts to verify that water drains away from the foundation.

Nobody wants to add cleaning up a wet or flooded basement to their to-do list; the cleanup can be a lot of work and expensive. Instead, follow this list of simple maintenance tasks to reduce your risk of a wet basement this fall season. Basement waterproofing contractors are experienced in keeping basements dry with advanced drainage and crack repair solutions. For help, call us at 1-800-719-9240, or visit us at basementsystemsofny.com to schedule your no-obligation consultation today!