If you have not experienced rain water entering you home from the many downpours this past weekend, consider yourself very lucky. With more rain in the forecast your luck may eventually run out…                                                                                   

              Here are a few tips that may help keep your property dry

1. Check gutters for any clogs. Gutters that are filled with debris do not allow water to flow through properly and the water will seep into areas closest to the clog.

2. Install window well covers to help keep standing water out. This is a fairly inexpensive fix.  The Home Depot sells these for around $18.00 each.

3. Landscape grades that run toward the house instead of away from it often result in flooding.  You will want to make sure that there is an adequate slope away from the house for at least 10-15 feet.  A professional landscaper will help you assess the situation and give advice for further prevention.

4. Provide emergency power. Install an automatic emergency generator to provide electric service for essential circuits like well pump, refrigerator, septic tank pump and sump pump in the case when power is lost. Without emergency backup power, you may return home to unnecessary basement flooding, or a flooded septic tank.

5. Install a backup sump pump. The sump pump is your first line of defense against basement flooding. However, the most reliable sump pump available in the industry is still a mechanic device and can fail. A backup sump pump system, preferably with at least a battery-operated pump, configured with a switch device to begin working if the main is out of commission, greatly reduces the chance of flood. Some systems come with additional security features such as an alarm that goes off whenever the battery operated is started.