Spring Thaw Tips

3/12/2021 (Permalink)

Make sure you're prepared for the spring thaw with these tips!

Spring is about a week away.  Temperatures will continue to rise which can lead to flooding and water damage.  The following are some tips to help prevent flooding and water damage in your home:

• Clean out your gutters/drainage systems - ice, water, and debris can build up over winter causing blockages in your drainage.  Before the spring thaw, make sure to clear your gutters and downspouts of debris.  Also check that the melting snow and ice is draining properly.
• Clear your roof - snow can accumulate on your roof after a long winter.  Once the temperature rises, all that snow can lead to a significant amount of water, which can overflow gutters, loosen shingles, and potentially cause flooding inside your home, affecting insulation, ceilings, and walls.
• Fill in any cracks and look for mold - like your roof, your windows, doors, walls, and ceiling can sustain water damage over time, especially in winter.  This is often due to poor air circulation and damp conditions.  Do some early spring cleaning and patch up cracks in the drywall and replace caulking or seals around windows.  If you encounter mold, it's important to have it taken care of properly by a water cleanup and restoration company such as SERVPRO of Holland/W. Ottawa County.
• Check your property - sometimes we don't realize that the slope of our property is actually directing water from melting snow or heavy rain right into our homes or places of business until it's too late.  Home and business owners can prevent flood damage by checking the lot grading on their property and take the necessary steps to make sure that water is being directed away from a home or building instead of towards it.
• Protect your basement/crawl space - a sudden rise in temperature can cause snow and ice to melt at a rapid rate, which can leave our basements and crawl spaces vulnerable to flooding.  Prepare ahead of time by cleaning any snow and ice away from perimeter drains outside your basement/foundation, and install sump pumps to deal with any water clean up issues inside your basement.  A flood alarm is another way to protect your home or business if your basement is susceptible to flooding.

If your home or business has been affected by the spring thaw, call SERVPRO of Holland/W. Ottawa County, 616-396-8180.  We are Here to Help!