At Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, one of the most immediate and important services we provide for clients throughout Utah is emergency plumbing. There are several varieties of plumbing emergency that may take place, but a relatively constant result of most of these is one homeowners everywhere are looking to prevent: Flooding.
No one wants flooding anywhere in their home, particularly in the basement, where most early flooding signs will be seen. As a homeowner, you have certain basic responsibilities here in terms of preventing flooding; as plumbers, we assist with several important areas here as well. This is a detailed and complex area, featuring concerns ranging from broad areas like flood zones and area maps to the specifics of your home and its plumbing system. As such, this multi-part blog series will go over a number of areas in terms of preventing basement flooding due to plumbing and related concerns: Which areas you should be handling as a homeowner, how can our plumbing staff help, and what are the steps you should be taking if significant flooding is taking place in your home? Let’s dig in.
Homeowner Responsibilities
For starters, you as a homeowner play a significant role in protecting your home from major flooding risks. For starters, you’re responsible for what you put down your various drain lines – it’s your job to ensure that non-approved items like tissue paper, food products or feminine hygiene products are not flushed down, as they can cause major sewer line clogs that often lead to flooding concerns.
In addition, you can take a number of steps – often in coordination with our plumbers – to prevent flooding risks in the future. Our next several sections will go over many of the important areas here.
Fixtures, Connections and Gaps
There are several connected areas to keep in mind when it comes to various home fixtures and components:
- Crack sealing: Seal any cracks inside your basement and on the exterior of the foundation, including seeking professional assistance if needed.
- Clean your rain gutters and ensure both the gutters and their downspouts are aligned properly.
- Check wall and floor panels for any deterioration or settling that may cause cracking and leaks.
Catch Basins
Have you ever wondered what those large sewer grates are on the road near your home? Those are called catch basins, and they’re responsible for drainage into the storm sewer. But if these basins become blocked or obstructed – something that often happens during spring in Utah as the snow melts away – big issues can take place, including concerns where drainage overflows and risks major flood concerns on your property. If you’ve had issues of this sort in the past, speak to your city’s engineering department about installing a yard basin to prevent it.
For more on how to prevent basement flooding issues in your home, or to learn about any of our plumbing or HVAC services, speak to the staff at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric today.