24/7 Emergency Service
How to Keep your Basement Dry during Storms.
7/31/2019 (Permalink)
Almost every basement in Wichita has a sump pump.
If you live in Kansas you know how intense the weather gets here. Shorts one day, snow the next the day and sometimes the storms rage for days at a time. In fact, we just finished that time of year and many people saw a lot of flood damage in their basement. For some people this was their first time and for others it unfortunately wasn’t but if you are reading this we hope to help you make it the last time.
We’ve been around a while and have seen flooded basements in Wichita, Derby, Andover and all over Kansas. We have helped so many people get their homes and businesses back in order after storms rampage across the sunflower state and accumulated a lot of experience doing so. Sometimes water damages are unavoidable but most of the time taking precautionary measures could greatly mitigate if not prevent flooding due to storms. Here is a list of our most commonly handed out advice we give to customers after they flood.
- Install a water powered sump pump
- Having a plan b for pumping water is a great idea and many people have them. The best back up pump to install is a water powered sump pump so if even if your power is lost the pumping won’t stop.
- Having a plan b for pumping water is a great idea and many people have them. The best back up pump to install is a water powered sump pump so if even if your power is lost the pumping won’t stop.
- Submersible Pump
- Since we are talking about pumps changing your pump from a pedestal style pump to a submersible pump is a good idea. Less can go wrong with a submersible pump and they typically have a 5 year warranty vs a 1 year warranty typical of pedestal style pumps.
- Since we are talking about pumps changing your pump from a pedestal style pump to a submersible pump is a good idea. Less can go wrong with a submersible pump and they typically have a 5 year warranty vs a 1 year warranty typical of pedestal style pumps.
- Install French Drains
- What is better than pumping water out and away from your home? Keeping it away from your home in the first place. Most landscaping companies can install them for you and they are very effective in moving water away from your home. Even a working pump can be overwhelmed.
- What is better than pumping water out and away from your home? Keeping it away from your home in the first place. Most landscaping companies can install them for you and they are very effective in moving water away from your home. Even a working pump can be overwhelmed.
- Gutter Extenders
- Speaking of keeping water away from your home gutter extenders are probably the easiest and cheapest thing you can do to move water away from your home. Make those gutters you have even more effective.
- Speaking of keeping water away from your home gutter extenders are probably the easiest and cheapest thing you can do to move water away from your home. Make those gutters you have even more effective.
- Get the slope of your yard inspected
- Many landscapers can provide slope inspections and solutions if your yard slopes toward your home. This will direct water towards your home rather than away from it. Getting the slope of your yard inspected is an especially good idea if your neighbors or neighborhood has done any large landscaping work recently. We have worked in many homes that have never had flooding problems before but experience issues after changes in the surrounding areas landscaping.
- Many landscapers can provide slope inspections and solutions if your yard slopes toward your home. This will direct water towards your home rather than away from it. Getting the slope of your yard inspected is an especially good idea if your neighbors or neighborhood has done any large landscaping work recently. We have worked in many homes that have never had flooding problems before but experience issues after changes in the surrounding areas landscaping.
- Keep basement patio drains clear
- This is a simple thing that we see all too often. Covered and clogged drains prevent sump pumps from being as effective as they could be.
These are all great preventive measures you can take to prevent flooding in your home or business due to storms. Make sure that during storms you go and check on your basement. Some flooding issues if caught while they are happening can be prevented such as a sump pumps float getting stuck, a basement window being open, and walk around in your bare feet to find moisture. Water can come up from all parts of your basement not just the sump pump.
If you are experiencing any flooding or are worried about moisture intrusion be sure to give us a call and schedule an inspection from one of our highly trained technicians. Our emergency line is 24/7 and answered by a real in town SERVPRO representative – 316-684-6700.