More Tips on How to Prevent Spring Thaw Flooding

4/1/2022 (Permalink)

Winter thaws can cause a lot of problems for Cedar City residents.

When the cold winter finally thaws into beautiful spring, you likely won’t be thinking about the potential of a flooded basement. Unfortunately, the possibility is quite real, especially if the temperature rises dramatically and suddenly (a common phenomenon in Utah). If unmanaged snow and ice melt too fast, the resulting water can quickly seep into your home’s foundation and cause terrible flooding in your basement.

Before the spring arrives, here are some things you can do to prevent spring flood damage.

Guard Your Home’s Exterior with Sand and Salt

While Southern Utah doesn’t typically experience a flurry of snowfall every winter, any snow that does build up around the foundation of your home can melt and cause unexpected flooding. Just as you do with your sidewalks, salt is a good solution for keeping ice formation and buildup to a minimum.

Additionally, if you have experienced flooding in past winters or want to ensure maximum protection, adding a sand-salt mixture to the ground beneath your gutters will help prevent ice and soak up extra water at the same time.

Prepare Your Yard for Proper Drainage

Every home is built upon a unique elevation and slope. No matter how well your land is prepared during construction, years and decades of settling can affect the direction water flows across your yard. A simple method of guarding your foundation from improper water distribution is to dig a channel that leads “downstream” and away from potential basement entry points. This channel is known as a swale.

If this simple fix is insufficient to solve the problem, you may need to seek professional assistance to adjust the contours of your property. After all, there is no need to live with the threat of basement flooding year after year.

Keep Your Basement Drains Clear

As the lowest point in your basement, your foundation’s drains are your next line of defense against intrusive flooding. These drains directly connect to your city’s sewer system, ensuring your basement stays protected from accidental flooding or burst pipes.

If you have never checked your basement drains before, make it a point to remove the metal cover and examine the interior of the pipe. If flooding has occurred before, debris may be stuck over or inside the drain.

Maintain a Cool Attic

Melting ice during the spring can be handled easily enough. But what happens when all that water refreezes right at the edge of your gutters, ready to cascade down on the first spring thaw?

As strange as it may sound, keeping your attic space cool is one of the best ways to ensure the snowpack on your roof collects and melts evenly. Proper insulation both between the attic ceiling and the roof, as well as your attic floor and the rest of your home, will help. Make sure to seal any cracks and spaces around window frames to keep everything dry.

Restore Your Home from Spring Thaw Flooding with SERVPRO in Cedar City and Fillmore, Utah

No matter how much you prepare for basement flooding, some disasters (whether natural or unforeseen) cannot be avoided. If you have experienced a flooded basement and require professional cleanup and restoration, you can rely on SERVPRO of Cedar City / Fillmore for fast and efficient service. Give us a call at (435) 251-924 if you find yourself in an emergency.