‘APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY FLOWERS’… AND AMPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR WATER TO LEAK INTO YOUR HOME. IN THE CHICAGOLAND AREA, IT’S IMPORTANT TO TAKE PREVENTATIVE STEPS TO ENSURE YOUR HOME IS SAFE FROM THE HEAVY SPRING RAINFALL.
HERE ARE FOUR WAYS TO HELP PREVENT FLOODING AND OTHER PROPERTY DAMAGE CAUSED BY SPRINGTIME SHOWERS:
CLEAR OUT YOUR GUTTERS & DOWNSPOUTS
DURING THE MONTH OF APRIL, YOUR GUTTERS AND DOWNSPOUTS ARE PUT TO THE TEST, WORKING TO CATCH ALL THAT RAINWATER AND PUSH IT AWAY FROM YOUR HOME. IT’S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE YOUR GUTTERS ARE CLEAR OF ANY DEBRIS AND ARE WELL-SECURED TO YOUR HOME.
IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A PROJECT, ADDING GUTTER SHIELDS OR SCREENS CAN HELP KEEP DEBRIS FROM BUILDING UP INSIDE YOUR GUTTERS, PREVENTING OVERFLOW.
LASTLY, CHECK YOUR DOWNSPOUTS TO ENSURE WATER IS FLOWING CLEANLY INSIDE THE SPOUTS AND AWAY FROM YOUR HOME.
CHECK YOUR HOME FOR LEAKS
YOU SHOULD REGULARLY CHECK YOUR HOME FOR WATER DAMAGE AND LEAKS, ESPECIALLY AS YOU PREPARE FOR MONTHS KNOWN FOR HIGH RAINFALLS.
LOOK FOR WATER MARKS OR MOISTURE ON THE ROOF, UNDERNEATH WINDOWS, AND ON EXTERIOR WALLS. TAKE SOME TIME TO WALK AROUND YOUR HOME AND LOOK FOR CRACKS, HOLES, OR OTHER DAMAGE AROUND THE FOUNDATION OF YOUR HOME, WINDOWS OR SKYLIGHTS, AND THE ROOF.
AND DON’T FORGET TO CHECK UNDERNEATH SINKS AND AROUND APPLIANCES FOR LEAKS, AS WELL. IF YOU FIND ANY LEAKS IN OR AROUND YOUR HOME, YOU MAY WISH TO CALL A PROFESSIONAL TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.
CHECK YOUR PUMPS
IF YOU LIVE IN THE CHICAGOLAND AREA, CHANCES ARE GOOD YOUR HOME HAS BEEN SAVED FROM THE RAIN BY A SUMP PUMP AND/OR EJECTOR PUMP.
BEFORE HEAVY RAIN SEASONS BEGIN, TEST YOUR PUMPS TO ENSURE THEY’RE WORKING PROPERLY AND EFFECTIVELY. IF THEY’RE OLDER MODELS, YOU MAY WANT TO HAVE THEM SERVICED BY A PROFESSIONAL, OR HAVE NEW ONES INSTALLED. BETTER TO CHECK NOW THAN WAKE UP TO A FLOODED BASEMENT.