Bowed Basement Walls and Spring Thaw – 4 Tips to Prepare Your Home for Spring Thaw
It is a great relief for many when the weather begins to warm up after a brutally cold winter. Spring is a time of rebirth and is certainly one of the most beautiful times of the year. However, it is also one of the most dangerous times of the year for your foundation.
Spring thaw can result in bowed basement walls and flooded basements. As the snow melts, the water is absorbed into the soil. This increases the hydrostatic pressure acting against the basement walls. You may soon begin to notice that you have bowed basement walls or you may even experience a flooded basement. The following are some tips to help you prepare your home for spring thaw in order to avoid flooding or bowed basement walls.
- Move the snow away from your foundation
Has snow accumulated around your home? It’s never a good idea to allow snow to accumulate near your home. Grab a shovel or a snow blower and move the snow away from your home. Move it at least 6 feet away from the foundation to prevent water from being absorbed into the soil around the foundation when the snow melts.
2. Clear the snow on your roof
Snow on the roof may give your home a festive look but it can be dangerous for your foundation. Not only is the added weight on your roof bad for the structure of your home, but the runoff from the molten snow can cause bowed basement walls when it is deposited near the foundation. Clear the roof of the snow and any debris such as leaves that could clog your gutters and downspouts.
3. Install backflow valves if you haven’t already
This is an emergency measure to protect your property from flooding in the event of the backup of the main sewer. Having backflow valves installed in your sewer lines will help to prevent sewage and wastewater from flowing back into your home and flooding your house. Ensure that backflow valves are installed in sewer connections such as toilets and drains in the basement.
4. Check your sump pump
Your sump pump is your last line of defense when snow begins to melt in spring. Your sump pump will help to ease hydrostatic pressure and prevent flooding by getting rid of excess water. The water from the soil will drain into the French drain and into the well where the sump pump will remove it.
Use the tips above to prepare and protect your home from the spring thaw.
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