Monday, February 2, 2015
According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, this cold weather and snow we have been having lately will be ending mid month leading into a warmer-than-normal spring in April and May and then a hotter-than-normal summer with near-normal rainfall. That means all this snow will be melting rather quickly. All the excess water in the ground may cause some problems for homeowners if no precautions are taken beforehand. Take some advice from your trusted insurance agency – preventing flooding in your home is important. Here are some tips:
- Check your gutters to make sure water can properly drain through your drainpipes away from your home. Over the winter, they may have accumulated debris which could cause water to flow past the drain spouts directly down the side of your home.
- Move the snow and the ice away from your home. If you have the ability to push it to lower ground, that would be helpful.
- Install a sump pump to pump out any water that may enter your basement. Make sure the power source is reliable for the pump so it does not stop working at a crucial time.
- Make sure your basement or crawlspace windows or vents are closed. You can reopen them when the weather is warmer.
- Check for any cracks in your foundation and repair them immediately.
- If your basement or crawlspace does start to flood move all of your valuable belongings to higher ground.
Remember, water that seeps in from the ground is considered flood water. Any damage to your home caused by ground seepage would not be covered under your standard homeowners insurance policy. You will need to have a flood insurance policy in place in order to cover the claim. Get your flood insurance quote today to avoid any problems during this year’s winter thaw.