How to Prevent a Basement Flood and What to Do If It Happens
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Ensure you know what to do in an emergency to help avoid property damage , from precautions to getting a sump to dealing with a flood if it happens despite your best efforts.
Even without a catastrophic flood in your basement, water and moisture may still be slowly seeping in from outside, particularly if you’re in an area with a high water table. Besides the obvious damage and inconvenience water can cause to your investment, continual moisture in your basement can result in mould and, with it, potential health problems for you and your family.
An electricity-powered sump pump housed below your basement floor can automatically pump rising water and drain it away from the foundation to help keep your basement dry.
If you have a sump pump, it’s a good idea to check it periodically to make sure it’s in good working order – monthly if it disposes of water from a washing machine, and once a season otherwise. In both cases, the pump screen or inlet opening should be cleaned.
Alarm: If your pump has one, it should be tested.
Check valve: This can help prevent water from flowing back after it’s pumped out.
Backup power: The last thing you want during a flood-related power outage is for your pump to stop working – you should have a battery-powered backup sump pump
Pit: The hole the pump sits in needs to be deep and wide enough for the machinery to work properly
Discharge location: It’s recommended that the area where pumped water is discharged is at least 6 meters (20 feet) from other homes, so water doesn’t drain into neighbouring properties.
If you think you need a replacement sump pump or want to learn more about a backup sump pump, a Reliance™ plumber can provide expert advice and installation.
Safety should always be your number one priority if you experience flooding in your basement:
At Reliance, we not only fix plumbing problems, but we can also help you avoid them. You’ll also receive one-year parts and labour warranty coverage.*
Consider a convenient Reliance Plumbing Protection Plan. It can save you plumbing service costs over time.
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