If you live in Menomonie, WI or near the Chippewa River, you undoubtedly understand the risk of seasonal flooding. Flood-prone areas around the river are especially prone to basement water intrusion during heavy rainfalls. We’ll offer you several tips to protect your basement during high-risk weather events.
Ask for Our No-Pressure Plumbing Assessment
A no-pressure plumbing assessment allows us to visually inspect your plumbing without using invasive tactics. We’ll look for loose connections, leaks, corroded pipes and fixtures, damaged water-using appliances and more. We won’t have to remove any walls or flooring, making this approach incredibly useful for quick checkups that help prevent basement flooding.
Install a Sump Pump
Any home with a basement in a flood-prone area can benefit from a sump pump. The device sits in a pit that fills with water when it rains or snow melts. Once the water reaches a certain level, the pump activates and pumps the water out before it floods the basement. We can help you choose the right size and style of sump pump for your home.
Sump pumps with pedestal motors or basic float switches tend to work best in basements that experience minimal flooding. If your basement includes a finished living space or valuable belongings, a submersible sump pump will work better. Unlike pedestal pumps, submersible ones sit directly in the sump pit and are fully submerged in water. This allows them to stay cooler and pump faster. Plus, they tend to operate more quietly since they stay underwater the whole time.
Install a Battery Backup for the Sump Pump
The times that you’ll need the sump pump most are during storms, when power outages are more likely. With a battery backup, you can rest easy knowing the pump will stay powered on even when the electricity fails. This simple add-on for sump pumps can save you thousands of dollars on flood repair costs.
Use Backflow Prevention
Basements with bathrooms or laundry rooms frequently have a sewer line connection. When it rains a lot, water can easily back up into this line, flooding the basement. We can add a backflow prevention device to block dirty water from entering your home. This is a one-way valve that allows water to flow out while preventing it from flowing in. Installing one of these devices requires expert knowledge of local building codes, so it’s best to let us handle the job. Many homes near the Chippewa River use these devices to protect their basements from sewage backups.
Remodel the Plumbing
If you frequently notice standing water or damp spots, there’s a good chance your basement’s drainage system isn’t set up correctly. By upgrading the drainage tiles, we can ensure water flows away from the house instead of back into it. We’ll remove any and all collapsed tiles, followed by installing modern drainage solutions that are suitable for the soil type in your community.
If we find heavy soil saturation or poor surface drainage, we might recommend installing a French drain system. This type consists of a perforated pipe and gravel trench that sit below the surface of your yard or basement floor. The setup carries water away from the home’s foundation, greatly reducing the risk of flooding and structural damage. Any type of drainage remodel will provide a long-term solution to moisture intrusion and water-related damage.
Waterproof Your Basement Walls
Your basement walls absorb water, especially when the soil is heavily saturated during storms and snow melts. The moisture that builds up in the walls will eventually lead to mold, mildew and leaks. By adding a waterproof coating or sealant, we can waterproof the walls so that they don’t absorb moisture, crack and leak. Some homes have their inside walls waterproofed, while those in high-risk flood zones often have both the inside and outside coated.
Extend Gutter Downspouts Away From the Foundation
Your gutters play a large role in directing rainwater off the roof and away from the home’s foundation. If the downspouts are too close to the house, though, they’ll do the opposite. Water will collect at the foundation and seep into cracks or porous areas, possibly flooding the basement and causing major structural issues. We can make sure your downspouts are in the right position. Some homes benefit from extending their gutter downspouts, so the water flows several feet away into a safe drainage area.
Replace Old or Collapsed Pipes
All pipes eventually corrode, rust and leak. Heavy rainfall makes pipe joint failures and foundation seepage much worse. We can check for signs of corrosion and damage and replace any affected sections of piping. By replacing old, galvanized or clay pipes with ones made of PVC or PEX, the basement will be much less likely to flood.
Invest in Regular Water Heater Maintenance
If you have a water heater in your basement, you need to have it inspected at least once a year. Water heaters will quickly flood the basement if they have a faulty pressure valve or a cracked tank. With routine maintenance, we can catch small leaks or worn-out components before they cause problems. A lot of homes throughout Wisconsin use tankless water heaters in their basements. Tankless versions don’t store water in a tank. Instead, they heat water on demand, which means there’s a lower risk of flooding.
Install a Whole-Home Leak Detection System
A leak-detection system will give you real-time oversight of your home’s plumbing. You’ll receive an alert immediately whenever the system detects a water leak of any kind. Some leak detectors can even automatically turn off the water when they sense a major leak or sudden pressure drop. The early detection these devices provide makes it simple to prevent costly water damage and protect your basement from flooding.
Regrade Your Lawn and Landscaping
If your yard slopes toward your house, the water will naturally collect around the foundation. The pressure this excess moisture puts on the basement walls increases the risk of flooding. By grading the yard so that it slopes away from the foundation, there will be less pressure and, therefore, less chance of water intrusion.
Seal Egress Window Wells, and Install Covers
Some basements have egress windows that work great for letting in natural light and providing emergency exits. However, when improperly sealed or surrounded by poor drainage, these windows become a hazard for letting water in. Sealing the window wells and installing durable covers will help prevent leaks.
We’re Here to Provide Emergency Services
Prompt help is of the utmost importance to save your property when the basement floods. That’s why our team provides emergency plumbing services. Whether it’s a burst pipe, leaky water heater or sump pump failure, we can help.
Hurlburt is here to keep your home leak-free and energy efficient. We can help with gas line repairs, water leaks, plumbing installations and more.
Call Hurlburt now to access reliable plumbing solutions for basement flooding in Menomonie.
