Although it feels like Mother Nature is playing a cruel joke every time the snow begins to melt, eventually it truly is going to begin to disappear and instead shovels, Moose Javians are going to need their rubber boots.
With snow fall levels sitting about 55 per cent higher than normal and approximately 30 to 40 cm currently on the ground, the possibility of flooded basements and water damage to the home is a very real possibility.
However, before you grab your insurance company’s number, Barry Webster of 4A Home Inspections, said there are some precautions homeowners can take to avoid a sloppy mess.
“The biggest thing, more than anything is the water runoff from the roof. Ensure that your down spouts are at least four to six feet away from the foundation and if possible ensure all the snow is moved away from the foundation.”
Webster said he knows it can be difficult to remove the snow, however by doing so you could be saving not only your basement but also the integrity of your home.
“When the water goes into the concrete and dries, it wicks into it, saturates the concrete and then you get a freeze thaw cycle … and it will cause concrete to flake off the walls, which you see a lot in older homes, and it takes away from the structural integrity of the home.”
Another concern homeowners face when water does make its way in to the home is mold, said Webster.
He said if water makes its way into the drywall or carpet the only way to remove it is to have the home eradicated. Webster said before you get to that point companies like his will come in and conduct an air test. The tests are sent away to a lab and results are in, in about three days.
However, “once you have mold spores and they multiply, if they go untreated, you have a very unhealthy situation.”
