Leaky pipes, leading water leaks, and flood damage are three common causes of water damage in basements. The first step to preventing water damage in your basement is to understand that there are a lot of sources of leaks. It also helps to have insurance for major disasters such as floods.
The insurance may cover the costs of services like bathroom water damage repair in such instances. With this in mind, when getting home insurance, ensure you ask questions like are water main leaks covered by insurance. Some people may have a basement flooding insurance claim being denied.
There may be several reasons behind this. For instance, one may not have submitted the proper documents, among other issues like not following the right steps in the claim process. You may consult experts working in flood damage restoration companies to avoid this. These experts will guide you on how to deal with water damage.
They also help you file a claim in the case of water damage to your property. In addition, the water damage professionals may help answer questions such as are leaky pipes covered by insurance, among other issues homeowners may want clarification about. Many people may also hire these professionals to undertake water damage restoration in homes.
Do you have a leaky, wet basement? If you do, it is important to understand the causes of these leaks and how water proofing solutions can help.
The Causes:
Even though water is everywhere, here are some tips to follow in order to prevent it from getting it into your basement.
Clean your gutters!
Although your gutters line your rooftop, a clean gutter is incredibly important to inhibit water from flowing into your basement. When they overflow with leaves and other debris, water has no where to go so it pools around your foundation. Regular cleaning and maintenance will direct the water 10 feet away from the house, instead of under.
Check your soil grade
If you have any soil around your home foundations it should slope at least six inches for every 10 horizontal feet. The soil that was back filled against the basement when your house was built has a higher tendency to settle compared to the surrounding undisturbed soils, and this higher slope will keep water from pooling and draining into the house. Plants should also be placed a minimum of two feet from the foundation and low in the soil.
Keep Up with Your Sump Pump
A sump pump is a pump commonly found in older house basements that are used to remove water collecting in the sump basin of a house. They send water out of the house to either a municipal storm drain or a sewer line. It is crucial that these pumps are kept free of clutter and debris, or else they will clog and your basement will overflow.They also act as a great investment as pedestal sump pumps can last for 25 to 30 years if installed properly, and submersible sump pumps last for up to 15 years.
If you do not control these factors cracks will appear on your foundation making an unpleasant, wet basement. Cracks in your foundation that are wider than one fourth of an inch, and stair step cracks in blocks and brick will serve as hints that you need to call a foundation repair service. These companies offer foundation sealing, home waterproofing, and basement crack repair. Don’t be one of the 98% of homes that experience some type of water damage, take precautions today! Visit here for more.