Top 7 Tips to Prevent Spring Flooding in Your Home

When spring hits Plover, WI, homeowners brace themselves for the combined forces of melting snow, spring thaws, and rain showers. With water coming from the sky and ground, a home needs as much protection against damaging floods as it can get. Use these seven tips from Superior Cleaning & Restoration in Plover, WI, to prevent spring flooding.

1. Use the Landscape to Prevent Flooding

The key to flood prevention starts with the home’s foundation. Rainwater and snow runoff drain downhill, pushing water against the house if the ground has improper grading. Homeowners can use rakes and shovels to build up dirt or rocks against their homes to redirect water.

Those wanting to provide the best protection can also install French drains in their landscape. French drains often look like beautiful additions of stony paths or trails crisscrossing the yard, but they function as waterways to keep a home safe from excess water. Homeowners can grade their landscapes and add French drains to provide the best home protection.

2. Install or Practice Maintenance on Sump Pumps

Sump pumps collect water and force it away from the home, making this equipment essential to anyone with a home prone to flooding. Many homeowners in Plover, WI, already have sump pumps installed in their crawlspace, basement, or lower living quarters. Before spring, homeowners should ensure their sump pumps don't need any repairs or have any debris lodged inside.

If a homeowner doesn't have a sump pump, purchasing a portable version or installing a permanent one can protect their home from rising waters during a flood event.

3. Inspect and Clean Gutters, Downspouts, and Drains

Spring showers drown a home, so ensuring the gutters, downspouts, and drains are functional can help prevent spring flooding. Homeowners should clean their gutter systems first, removing all leaves, sticks, and other debris. Next, they should use a water hose to spray water into their gutters and have a second person verify that the water drains away from the home safely. 

This test will also send water spilling out of any cracks or disconnected parts in the gutter and drainage system. A property owner should mend any damaged parts of their gutter system, so it’s ready to take on the spring weather.

4. Fix Cracks or Holes in the Foundation

A sturdy foundation makes a significant difference in potential spring flooding. Walk along each side of the home and inspect the foundation for cracks, holes, or other damage. Some cracks may seem superficial, but repairing them can be the difference between a safe basement or dangerous flooding.

5. Check Roofs and Windows for Leaks

Spring rain also causes leaks to pop up in damaged or broken roofs and windows. These problems sometimes hide until a heavy storm, after which signs of water damage like stained ceilings or bubbling wall paint will appear. If water is leaking into the home from a window or roof, it's crucial to address the problem immediately.

6. Move Snow Away From the House

Plover, WI, can receive as much as 45 inches of snow per year, so when snow piles up along a home’s foundation, it's time to grab a shovel. Moving snow away from the home can help prevent unexpected flooding as it melts, allowing a homeowner to proactively protect their house. Remove snow to about five feet away to ensure that it drains away from the home during warmer weather.

7. Have a Plan Ready for Spring Flooding

No one wants to walk down to their basement to discover waist-high water and a broken sump pump. Preparing for spring flooding should happen far before the rain and melted snow take over, so create an action plan and have equipment on hand in case of an emergency. A portable sump pump protects a home if the permanent one fails, while sandbags can keep water at bay if it rises above the expected level.

Make sure everyone in the home knows the plan and how they can help during an emergency flooding event.

Prevent Spring Flooding with These Seven Tips from Superior Cleaning & Restoration in Plover, WI

When spring comes to Plover, WI, rainfall and snow runoff can cause dangerous flooding and water damage to any home. The tips above from Superior Cleaning & Restoration can help prevent spring flooding and keep a home in safe and functional condition.



Homeowners suffering water damage from a spring flood in Plover, WI, can contact Super Cleaning & Restoration or call at (715) 768-6030 for professional water damage restoration.