Spring Puddles and Your Home

 

Usually, mid March is the time we start talking about what you can expect from the thawing ice and melting snow. But the snow has been gone for a few weeks and many of the inland lakes and rivers are already looking a little high across mid-Michigan. Add this to the long stretch of rain in the forecast starting next week and your basement or crawl space may be at risk. The source of most of the trouble? Puddles.

 

Yep. Puddles.

 

There are three important places you might see puddles form, and each means a different thing. 

 

In your yard

 

When puddles form in your yard, it’s a sign that the ground has reached its saturation point. Just like a sponge can only absorb so much water before it runs right off, the soil has a limited absorption capacity. If you live in an area with a high water table, that capacity may be even lower. 

 

If you see puddles in your yard, you’ve hit capacity. Unfortunately, there isn’t a lot you can do about them, but they’re a sign you should start watching for water in your home.

 

Around your foundation

 

If there are puddles forming around the foundation of your home, your grading and/or gutters are likely to blame. 

 

Grading refers to the slope of your yard - this may be natural or man-made because of the additions of gardens or other features. If the soil slopes toward your home, water will naturally come with it (especially considering the soil over saturation already mentioned) and pool once it hits your foundation. You can combat this by changing the grading to create a downward slope from your home. This may be the simple DIY of adjusting some flower beds, or may require professional landscapers, depending on how severe the problem is.

 

As for your gutters, did you procrastinate cleaning them out this fall and then let the snow and ice just push them from your mind entirely? Well, they’re back with a vengeance. Clogged gutters can’t efficiently disperse water and can cause pooling and flooding around your foundation. It’s also possible for them to be damaged by ice over the winter; spring is a great time to check them out, finally clean them out, and make any needed repairs. Extending your downspouts to discharge water further away from your home can also reduce water puddled around the foundation.

 

In your basement

 

All of that water mentioned in the first two sections? Well, eventually it might end up in your basement. Water is tough stuff - tougher than concrete - and it’ll move through whatever it needs to in order to get to a lower pressure area. 

 

This might mean it comes through the walls and even floor of your basement. If you’ve ever found a mystery puddle in the middle of your basement floor (and the dog wasn’t to blame), then you’ve experienced the effects of hydrostatic pressure. 

 

Water coming in through your walls or floor is a twofold problem. One, you don’t want the water there in the first place. Two, water can weaken concrete as it creates a path inside, making it easier for water to come through in the future. That’s why we emphasize the fact that water problems don’t go away and generally only get worse. 

 

Luckily, this can be pretty easily solved with a waterproofing system. Unlike some companies’ exterior systems, which are prone to clogging and breaking, our interior below-floor WaterGuard system collects water and swiftly discharges it outside via a sump pump to keep your basement dry.

 

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Even though we’ll probably get an unexpected snowstorm, it’s safe to say that spring is here. And with it comes rain - lots of it - and puddles. Let’s keep them away from your house and leave them for jumping in. Call today to schedule your free inspection.