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Keeping water out of your basement

It’s starting to look like spring has arrived. Following a winter with precipitation levels which were 40% above the average, and with plus zero temperatures predicted for most days over the next couple of weeks, it’s about to get wet. The City of Saskatoon has issued a warning that a little preventative maintenance is in order if you’d like to keep the spring melt off from ending up in your basement.

Here are the tips they’ve provided to prevent a basement flood.

• Remove snow from around your foundation and window wells.
• Most lots drain along the outside edges. Remove snow from these areas.
• Keep the snow in your yard because shoveling it onto streets or lanes could block drainage.
• Clear snow and ice from around the bottom of your downspouts and extend downspouts at least two metres so water drains away from your foundation.
• Where possible and safe, help clear snow, ice, and debris from the catch basins in your area.
• Check your roof and eaves troughs for excessive snow.
• Consider hiring a professional to clear snow from your roof.
• A roof rake may help you to clear snow and debris from the edge of your roof.
• Consider using sandbags to block water from entering low lying areas beside your foundation.
• If water is getting close to your foundation, use an appropriate pump to drain it to the gutter or back lane.
• Please use all equipment properly and follow safety guidelines.

Best wishes for a dry spring.