Plans and Projects to Halt Seasonal Water Damage

Poets love to focus on the positive when contemplating the transition from the harshness of icy winter to the freshness and warmth of spring. Nineteenth-century stanzas emphasizing "March winds and April showers do spring forth May flowers" skip over the unfortunate part where ice and snow melt added to torrential spring rains can expose your home to significant water damage. Homeowners whose residences are at risk of suffering from the effects of spring leaking, seeping, and flooding must be prepared and obtain prompt and professional help if the worst happens.

Do You Need Flood Insurance?

Do you know whether your home is in an area prone to spring flooding as the snow melts and the rain falls? Perhaps you already have the answer, if your mortgage lender requires flood insurance before funding your home purchase. In all cases, it is wise to investigate your flood risk using tools provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program. Flood insurance can offer some peace of mind, understandable as FEMA reports that the average flood damage claim is $30,000. With an industry-leading disaster recovery company at your side, mitigation and remediation interventions and insurance claims proceed more smoothly.

Water Damage Prevention Tips

Novelist Leo Tolstoy offered something much more helpful than a catchy nursery rhyme for homeowners facing seasonal flooding when he wrote in Anna Karenina, "Spring is the time of plans and projects." With preplanning and action, you can avoid most spring water damage disasters. Keep the name of a trusted restoration company handy just in case while staying current with the following regular and preventative preparation and maintenance: 

  • Roof and water runoff drainage systems—Ensure that shingles and flashings are secured. Check gutters and downspouts for clogs and damage, clear away debris, and make repairs so water flows freely to the ground several feet away from your building. 
  • Landscaping—Proper grading prevents pooling and seepage adjacent to the foundation, with the ground or other materials sloping away at least half an inch per foot for 10 feet or more.
  • Drain tiles—Consider installing drain tile around your home's perimeter, using submerged conduits to direct water away from your basement or crawl space.
  • Foundation Inspection—Assess the materials of your foundation or crawl space for cracks or gaps that could allow water to infiltrate easily. Arrange for repairs immediately, preferably long before the spring flooding season.

Homeowner Response if Flooding Occurs

Sometimes, the best-laid plans cannot prevent a flood crisis. Do not delay calling professionals for water mitigation and extraction. While waiting for the experts to arrive, take the following steps to minimize the damage:

  • Turn off the power to avoid shock and electrocution.
  • Use towels or mops to absorb water.
  • Lift furniture onto blocks if you can manage it safely.
  • Pick up loose items on the floor and remove them to a secure, dry area.
  • Stay out of areas where ceilings or walls exhibit bulging or "sweating," as collapse of trapped water is possible.

Partner with AdvantaClean for Water Damage Restoration

Managing spring flooding and water damage is a specialty of AdvantaClean. Our company and crew members are certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), an international restoration standards developer and educational organization. We pledge to perform the tasks necessary according to research-based best practices using state-of-the-art equipment and tools and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered products. 

Our training, certification, experience, and skills are critical to addressing spring snowmelt, storms, and flooding safely and efficiently. AdvantaClean crew leaders and technicians assess the damage and plan wrap-around services to mitigate and remediate water damage, contain and remove contamination, and dry out all affected building materials, avoiding secondary problems like mold.

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Contact AdvantaClean with confidence when spring water damage threatens the integrity of your home. We commit to transparent communications and assistance with insurance claim documentation while returning your property to its previous comfort and condition.

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