Spring is nearly here in the Twin Cities, and we all know what that means: spring cleaning—oh yay! At Kiser Construction, we know spring cleaning isn’t the most exciting part of your year, but we also know it’s a necessity. In Minnesota, our harsh winters can leave behind considerable property damage that you may not be aware of until the snow and ice begin to disappear. And, unless you conduct a thorough property inspection and perform routine maintenance, you could leave your home susceptible to significant water damage during runoff season. Below, we’ve detailed a few valuable tips for inspecting and maintaining your property, which will help you avoid home water damage restoration.
Inspect & Clean Your Gutters
Gutters are sorely overlooked in most households, but you don’t have to follow suit! Your gutters serve a critical protective function for your home: directing water away from the siding and foundation. As such, they must be clear and fully intact to perform their job properly. Here’s how to perform a quick inspection and clean your gutters:
● Grab a ladder and prop it against the eave of your home’s roof. Consider employing ladder horns to prevent the ladder from damaging your gutters.
● Inspect the gutters for debris, mold, mildew, and anything else that might prevent water from flowing freely toward the downspout.
● Using a small scoop and plastic bucket, scoop bits of debris out of each gutter and collect them in the bucket. If you want to keep your lawn looking nice, toss the debris in the trash, not on your grass.
● When you’ve finished cleaning, flush each gutter and downspout with water from your garden hose.
After you’ve cleaned your gutters, make sure you examine the positioning of each downspout, too. Make sure each downspout directs water at least five to 10 feet away from your home’s foundation for the best protection against foundation water damage.
Inspect Your Roof for Leaks
A leaky roof is a disaster waiting to happen. Roof leaks not only allow water to enter and damage your attic, but if they’re severe enough, that water can also damage your ceiling and walls.
A common wintertime phenomenon, ice dam formation, causes water to pool on your roof, where it can slowly deteriorate the shingles and seep into the wood beneath. When that happens, moisture can enter your attic, where it encourages mold growth, insulation deterioration, and rot. Unfortunately, once water damage reaches that point, you’ll have no choice but to call in the water damage restoration specialists.
Fortunately, you can avoid leaky roof debacles by conducting routine roof inspections. As winter comes to a close, head up to your attic and inspect the space for signs of moisture. If you see any mold, mildew, or water stains, contact a roofing contractor immediately for a more thorough inspection. The sooner you call in the specialists, the lower your chances of incurring severe water damage.
Test Your Sump Pump Regularly
Last but certainly not least, as you’re spring cleaning the lower levels of your home, make sure you examine and test your sump pump (if you have one). Your sump pump has one function: to pump accumulated water from beneath your home and direct it away from the structure. That said, the pump only operates when subsurface water levels reach a certain point, so if precipitation has been minimal, you may rarely see it in action.
The last thing you need is to find out your sump pump is non-operational during a spring rainstorm, so make sure you test it at least once per year. Here’s how:
● Grab a bucket and fill it with water.
● Carefully pour the water in the sump pit until you observe the float beginning to rise.
● The pump should immediately spring to life when the float reaches a certain level, and when it does, you’ll see the water level begin to diminish.
● Make sure you continue observing the pump until it clears the water you just poured into the pit.
● If you have a backup pump, you’ll need to test it the same way. Just make sure you unplug the main pump first.
Routine sump pump testing is one of the easiest things you can do to avoid weather-related basement or crawl space flooding, so don’t neglect this critical test! If you do, you run a very real risk of requiring extensive water damage restoration when severe storms hit.
Protect Your Home Against Water Damage: Contact Kiser Construction Today
At Kiser Construction, we’re well-known as disaster restoration contractors, but that’s not all we do—we’re expert remodeling contractors, too! Throughout our many years of performing comprehensive water damage restoration, we’ve learned exactly which red flag to keep an eye out for. If you need help protecting your home, we’re the team to call. Whether you need new gutter installation, roof repair, or suggestions for keeping your home dry, we’re always ready to lend a hand. To learn more about our services or to schedule your appointment, give our team a call at 763-633-2010 or reach out to us on our contact page.
If you’ve recently experienced property damage and require immediate assistance, don’t hesitate to contact us on our 24/7 emergency line at 612-518-8852.