Maintain Your Gutters

One of the first things you should have on your home maintenance list is gutter cleaning. You may be wondering what this has to do with water making its way into your basement, but it makes sense if you think about how a gutter works and what it is for. When your gutters become clogged with debris, it stops the flow of water. When this happens, water has nowhere to go and is not being routed away from the home.

Clogged gutters can cause leaks, and all the debris can ultimately damage your gutters. When this happens, the water has nowhere else to go and can find itself in the basement of your home. To avoid this, clean the gutters regularly and consider installing leaf guards and downspout extenders to route the water far away from the home.

Check Your Windows

If you have windows in your basement, take a good look at them and see if there could be any damage that can cause water to leak into the basement. When water is unchecked, it can lead to mold growth. A simple caulking fix around the windows will often do the trick and keep the water out, but you also want to make sure any damage is fixed prior to doing this.

If your basement windows are below grade level, consider window wells. A window well is a curved steel insert that is installed outside of the basement window. It has a drain and gravel to help filter the water away from the windows and foundation.

Inspect the Basement

Now let’s move into the basement and have a look around. If you have taken the precautions needed outside and still notice you have basement water damage, then you want to look for the source. Your sump pump and water heater may be the culprits because they have sprung a leak and are not operating as they should.

Sometimes the water damage may even be the result of a leak happening on the first floor of the home. So, check under all the sinks, check your appliances and the toilets.

Call in the Water Damage Restoration Experts

Once you have found the source of the water, it is time to address the water damage to avoid even costlier problems in the future. For this, call in water damage restoration professionals to clean up the water. Once this is done, always remain proactive to stay ahead of water damage in your basement. Never ignore any moisture issues and do everything you can to waterproof the home and basement to avoid more water damage in the future.