Kitchen & Bathroom Design Blog

Here is a new blog post from a guest author contributing to Lang's Kitchen & Bath website.  We hope you find this topic helpful!

Water back up may sound like a foreign concept to you. That’s normal, considering that it’s something that construction crews and contractors are supposed to handle for you. Water back up occurs when the water that collects around your house can’t be drained fast enough, leading to a “back up” into your home.

This water can come from heavy rain, melting snow or even flash flooding (a more extreme example). Whatever the source, the fact is that water can end up collecting in your yard and running back into your home. The average cost of a water damage claim is $6,965.00!

To help you prevent a water damage loss, and save you money, we’ve put together a brief guide on how to avoid water back-ups.

Step #1 Maintain Your Guttering

You may not think they are particularly important, but your gutters play a KEY role in maintaining the run off of water from your home. It’s incredibly important to maintain them if you want to avoid water build up.

As such, you should fix sagging gutters ASAP and regularly clear them of debris and leaves.

Step #2 Assess your Gutter Function

This step goes hand in hand with step 1. Heavy rains can be a real problem if you’re not prepared.

To make sure that your gutters are good enough to protect your home, assess them after 15 minutes of heavy rainfall. IF they are full and/or overflowing, you may need to add more downspouts.

Step #3 Run Downspouts Away from your home

Now that you’ve installed your extra downspouts-or even if you haven’t-it’s not a good idea to have them emptying very close to your foundation. This makes it far more likely that water will pile up near your house.

Instead, try extending your downspouts at least 10ft from your home, into a proper run-off system or drain. This will allow sufficient space for excess water to drain off, before it becomes a potential issue for your home.

Step #4 Watch your Landscaping

Now that the gutters have been taken care of, the next major culprit for water back up is your landscaping-or lack thereof.

During the next significant rainfall, you should observe the flow of water in your yard. Look for areas of stagnation or slow run-off and attempt to address them adequately. Sometimes, digging a channel or removing a group of plants may be necessary.

Step #5 Watch your Sump

No, I’m not talking about your rear. Mind out of the gutter…

What I’m referring to is the lowest point of your basement. It’s a common feature in many American homes, especially given that no floor is perfect, and is often a place that collects surface run-off water.

Pay special attention to yours and purchase a sump-pump to drain any water that builds up there.

Following these steps will definitely help to prevent water backup problems. Pick a few and take steps now to save yourself money and stress in the long term.

Author Biography: Skylar Lewis

Skylar Lewis is a die hard entrepreneur who is committed to providing massive value in whatever he does. Skylar has built Superior Restoration into a dominant force in Southern California through a constant growth mentality. You're either growing or you're dying. Follow Superior Restorations on Google + to get the latest water, fire, and mold damage prevention tips.