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Don't Be Waterlogged: Toronto Basement Flooding Prevention 101

Have you ever woken up to a basement full of water?

Well, you are certainly not alone. This is a common occurrence in not only in Toronto but also in most parts of Canada. This is even becoming increasingly alarming due to the recent climate change.

A flooded basement will cost you up to $43,000 to repair. This is according to the latest figures from the Insurance Bureau of Canada.

Whether you use your Toronto basement as your gym area, home office, entertainment, or even kid’s play area, it is important that you take the necessary precautions to avoid flooding. Otherwise, you risk losing not only your valuables but also your irreplaceables such as family heirlooms and keepsakes. In addition, the mental health impact a flooded basement lives long after the flood.

The 7 Best Basement Flooding Prevent Tips

Accidents and incidents happen in homes every day. While there are many accidents you can’t help, there are ways that you can go about preventing your basement from flooding.

Read on for some basement flooding prevention tips.

1. Properly Landscape Your Lawn

You should grade your lawn in a way that it slopes away from the walls of your home and towards the streets or any gutters around. This is a very effective way to stop basement flooding from the outside.

Take a walk around your house and see if this is the case. If your lawn slopes towards the walls of your house, then it means water will eventually go into your basement.

But, don't worry. Use the following landscaping solutions.

  • Installing a rain garden or a green roof

  • Diverting the rain spouts to the direction away from your walls

  • Putting heavy mulch on your lawn, this will absorb much of the water

  • And finally, digging out a swale to divert the rain

2. Consider Installing a Sump and a Backup Sump

You should consider installing a sump pump as well as its back-up system if you are a homeowner and you live in a flood-prone area. If your basement floor and crawl spaces tend to collect a lot of moisture.

This negligible percentage of investment considering the damage that can happen should prevent your basement from flooding when you are away for your family vacation.

If you are wondering what a sump pump is, it's a machine that sucks up water from your basement, crawl spaces or even the surrounding foundation and redirects the water away from your house.

Usually, when there is a flood or long periods of rain, the water levels rise up from the underground and collect on your basement, foundation cracks or crawl spaces.

A sump pump works more like flood insurance for your home.

Just like a backup generator, the backup sump pump kicks in immediately the sump pump goes out. Consider getting a battery-operated backup for when the power goes off.

3. Clean out Your Gutters as Well as Your Downspouts

While this may seem like a no brainer to any Toronto homeowner, you would be surprised by the amount of debris that comes out of gutters when they are cleaned.

If you already clean your gutter, make it a regular routine cleaning and not a spring or fall cleaning project.

When your gutter collects a lot of debris, they block water that is meant to be drained. The water forms small pools which slowly causes leaks and wall cracks.

To prevent flooding in the basement, position your downspouts away from the foundation- at least three feet away. You can use troughs or get a plumber to install downspout extensions if they are short than three feet.

4. Install Well Covers for Windows

If your basement has below-grade windows, you can install window well covers. They help in making your basement waterproof by protecting water from coming in through the low windows. Ensure you securely fasten them so they are properly latched onto your windows for them to serve their intended purpose.

5. Fix the Wall Cracks

Inspect your house for any wall cracks. This is where water seeps through into your basement. You can either call a professional to close up the cracks if they are serious, or you can use a masonry sealer or an epoxy to fill up the cracks.

6. Call a Toronto Plumber to Install Backwater Valves

If you don’t mind spending a little bit on basement flooding solutions, installing a backwater valve is very effective.

Backwater valves are made specially to close up your sewer line during periods of long heavy rains. This is to prevent water from entering your home.

It is important that you note that backwater valves can only licensed plumbers can install them. Even so, they need a building permit to install.

7. Consider Getting a Flood Insurance Cover

The costs of repairing a flooded basement itself are over the roof. With this rather harsh economy, it is not common not to have $43,000 just lying around waiting for such emergencies. Yet you cannot live in a house with a flooded basement.

So what do you do?

Take up a flood insurance cover. It gives you the peace of mind of knowing that should such an occurrence happen, your house will be sorted out. Plus it’s easier to pay small amounts towards our insurance can cough up all that amount all at once.

When the valve is closed, avoid using plumbing fixtures such as your toilets, sinks, and dishwasher or washing machine otherwise the water go back into your home since their no drainage outlet.

Does Your Basement Need Plumbing Even After the Above Basement Flooding Prevention Tips?

Use the above basement flooding prevention tips to protect you from the losses. If your basement is already waterlogged before you can implement the above basement, flooding prevention tips then consider reaching out to Mr. Rooter Plumbing Toronto.

We do all sorts of plumbing services- drain cleaning, hydro-scrubbing, underground drain, and water pipe replacement- name it. In addition, the best part is that we have a 24-hour emergency service. Therefore, you have no excuse to sleep in a flooded basement!