DIY Preventative Maintenance – Prevent Flooding in Michigan
A home is often the biggest investment many people will ever make. Spending a little time can often stop small problems before they become big problems. One of the best things you can do as a Michigan homeowner is to walk around the perimeter of your home and look for potential issues that could cause flooding. The first thing is to make sure your gutters are clear of any debris so they can do their job of funneling water as designed. Making sure all downspouts have extensions so water is flowing away from your home is crucial to prevent water from pooling around your foundation. Also looking at the slope of the ground is important. The soil should be higher around the perimeter of your home and slop away allowing for water to funnel away. If you find that is not the case you will need to build up the ground to create a slope away from your home so the water flows away from your house. If building up the soil isn’t possible, installing a french drain system can help funnel the water away so it does not pool up. To make sure everything is working properly in action I would suggest walking the perimeter of your house right after a hard rain. If you see water pooled up anywhere around your home then additional attention will be required. The best defense is keeping water away. Over time water will eventually find it’s way into your home without the proper preventative maintenance.
Hire A Pro
If you don’t have the time or desire to take the proactive steps for making sure your Michigan home can withstand a heavy rain it may be time to hire a pro. Spending a little money for someone who does waterproofing for a living can often identify problems quicker since they have a trained eye on what to look for. This investment could potentially save you from a bigger headache down the road.
Conclusion
The reality is during a freak storm that causes massive flooding in Michigan to the point your home is surrounded by water, your house is probably going to take on some or a lot of water. That is why you have flood insurance, for the situations that are unavoidable. However taking the time to do some preventative maintenance can help avoid your home from flooding during the smaller storms were it is avoidable. The goal is not to file a claim on avoidable situations because that will end up costing you more money and hassle in the long run.
