With heavy rainfall or the sudden melting of significant snow amounts like we’re experiencing now in parts of Ontario where temperatures have reached and remained at double digits, the risk of spring flooding becomes a real threat to people and residential and commercial properties.
In fact, flooding is one of the most frequent and costly natural disasters in Canada [source].
Here are a few of our top tips to help protect yourself, your property and your belongings from the damaging effects of flooding.
Remove as much snow as possible from around your home, especially around the foundation and window wells. This is a good practice to maintain throughout the winter season but it is especially critical in March as temperatures start climbing.
Ensure your roof is kept clear as much as possible. Consider hiring a professional for roof snow removal or do-it-yourself using a long-handled snow rake. This is especially important if you live in a semi-detached house or have another adjoining structure where areas of melting snow can pool and potentially cause damage.
Invest in a sump pump to help force melting snow and groundwater away from your home and ensure it is operating optimally. You’ll also want to combine that sump pump with a blackflow preventor or one-way valve to prevent water from flowing back into your basement.
Ensure that any melting snow will be diverted away from your home and its foundation. For example, check your sump pump’s discharge hose and your downspouts to ensure they’re positioned so that water is drained away from any foundational structure. The distances required for these usually depend on the degree of slope near your home.
Check and clean your gutters or eavestroughs to remove accumulated leaves, other debris and even excess snow that may prevent snow from draining properly.
Keep an eye on city-managed culverts and ditches that help drain water away from properties in your residential neighbourhood. In some cases, your local city authorities will remove snow to help melting snow drain effectively.
Be aware of any low-lying areas in relation to your home. For example, if your home is at the bottom of a hill or if the backfill around your home slopes toward the foundation, you may need to perform landscape work to ensure proper drainage.
Know your property’s potential for flood risk based on location. The government of Ontario’s Flood Forecasting and Warning Program issues alerts and messages when flooding may be imminent or actively occurring.
You can click here to assess your area for relevant flood warnings or messages.
Have you experienced a flood at home or at work? Contact us today for a free phone consult at 416-575-6111 and learn more about our Bacteria and Sewage Sampling or mold remediation services today.
