Most of the Southeastern Home Solutions service area, including Birmingham and Chattanooga, has been inundated with torrential rainfalls during the month of April. The rains were welcomed at first to help with drought conditions, but the showers quickly became too much of a good thing as streets and basements began flooding. Some areas reported over 5 inches of rain in just one day and there was just nowhere for the rain to go in that short of time.
There are several ways that excess water can damage the foundation of your home or business. Oversaturated soil can push against the basement walls with extreme amounts of pressure. This can call foundation walls to bow, lean, or even collapse.
As the water pushes against the walls, even a hairline crack can allow water to seep in. Wet basements can be susceptible to mold and mildew and will attract bugs and other pests. Your belongings and furnishings can be damaged by the intruding water, in addition to weakening the structural material of your home.
Fortunately, there are solutions to repairing foundation damage caused by rain and flooding. Southeastern Home Solutions can repair cracks, bowing or leaning walls, and other foundation damage.
There are some steps you can do to help lower the chance of water entering your basement:
You can also help keep your basement dry by using a dehumidifier. Keeping the air dry in the basement will help reduce the chance of mold and foul odors moving through the house.
Waiting until your basement is full of water is not the time to think about waterproofing. With the amount of rainfall we experienced the last couple of weeks, water can come in from many locations like basement windows, and floor and wall cracks.
Before you start any repairs you’ll want to get a free inspection from a waterproofing expert, like those at Southeastern Home Solutions. They can determine what steps are needed to keep your basement dry and your home safe and healthy.
You may need drains or a sump pump installed. There are several types of drains and pumps, so you need to get a professional opinion of what is best for your situation. A battery back-up pump will give you peace of mind if the power goes out, your main pump fails, or it can’t keep up with rain by itself.
The way the weather has been acting, it’s only a matter of time before we have another large rain event. Make sure your home and basement are ready to handle what Mother Nature throws at you.
