Tips for Preventing Spring Flooding In Your St Louis MO Home

Spring is about to arrive and with it comes higher risks of flooding across the United States. Unfortunately, this is a very familiar story for many homeowners in St Louis MO.

Flooding is common in the spring months mainly due to rain and melting snow. However, spring flooding can also be caused by thawing permafrost and geothermal heat flux. 

As the warm, humid weather is now quickly moving in and rainwater is collects, property owners in St Louis MO must start to take precautions to minimize flood damage, especially in basements and crawl spaces.

Keeping your property dry through this often stormy season is vital, as flood damage can become widespread and very costly. 

However, by taking the necessary steps to counter it, St Louis homeowners can protect their properties from major damage. Here are six tips for preventing spring flooding from the experts at Pride Cleaning And Restoration, Inc.

1) Draw up an emergency spring flood plan

If your area is particularly prone to flooding, make sure you have an emergency spring flood plan in place.

If your home floods, you and your family need to know what steps to take right away. You also need to decide on a meeting place and make sure that you have the contact information of a water damage restoration company that specializes in flood cleanup.

If you’ve received advanced warning about a flood, consider the high-value items in your home, especially those in the basement. If you can, move your valuable furniture, books and documents upstairs. Otherwise, place them in waterproof containers or raise them off the ground using styrofoam blocks. All electrical items should be unplugged and removed too.

2) Check if your insurance covers spring flooding

Did you know that most insurance companies don’t automatically cover floods? So, if you live in a high flood-risk area, it’s important to know if your insurance policy will cover you for spring flooding.

Having this information before a flood occurs can help you to be better prepared and avoid any nasty surprises later down the line.

What’s more, many insurance plans don’t take effect until 30 days after you contract them. So, don’t wait until it’s too late.

3) Keep your gutters and drains clear of debris

To prevent spring flooding, some cleaning and regular upkeep is always helpful.

Homeowners in St Louis MO should regularly clean their gutters and storm drains, especially before the start of spring, because leaves, stones and debris can accumulate throughout winter and block the flow of water away from your home.

You should also clear snow away too. The closer piles of snow are to your home, the easier it is for it to melt and make its way into your home. Move it to at least three to five feet away from the exterior.

It’s also important that your downspout pipes are crack-free so the water doesn’t leak and collect in pools near your home.

4) Watch out for cracks and leaks

Before spring arrives, it’s important to check for any visible damage to walls, floors and door frames. Also keep an eye out for cracks, other signs of water intrusion and any drainage issues. This helps to ensure that water is prevented from entering your building.

As they say: prevention is better than cure. So, if you encounter such problems, repairing them will be much quicker and cheaper than the potential consequences of water damage.

Simple patching compounds can be extremely helpful in this regard.

5) Keep your basement well-maintained

Because basements are particularly susceptible to floods, making improvements wherever possible is advisable. For example, replacing old windows with water-resistant ones, waterproofing the foundations and walls with a waterproofing coat or spray, or installing flood vents can help keep rainwater away from the your property.

Maintaining a neat, uncluttered storage space is another way to help prepare for flooding and reduce the risk of damage to belongings. 

6) Install and keep a sump pump in good working order

Installing a sump pump in your basement is a major step towards protecting your home from major flooding. They collect floodwater and pump it either into a sewer system or away from the home, depending on the model. 

Checking for clogs and testing the sump pump every spring (and again after every major rainfall) is recommended to ensure the pump is working properly and is ready to divert potential flooding.

Their electrical cords should also be checked to ensure optimal power supply.

Call Pride Cleaning And Restoration, Inc, the water damage experts

We can never know for certain what the weather is going to do, but by following our tips for preventing spring flooding, you could save thousands of dollars in potential water damage costs and keep your family and belongings safe in the event of a flood.

That said, even the best precautions are no guarantee. That’s why the water damage restoration experts at Pride Cleaning And Restoration, Inc are available 24/7 to assist.

No matter the size of the disaster, we have the solution.

Visit our website or call (314) 668-1223 for a consultation.