Just as the weather folks predicted, we got a lot of snow in Maryland. Winter Storm Jonas packed a punch in Frederick County and the snow looked pretty as it fell, but now that it’s piled up in our yards and will soon melt, it’s time to think about something not so pretty: water in our basements.
Let’s look at a few things you can do to reduce potential problems.
Remove Snow Piles Away From Your House
A 10-foot high pile of snow that’s about 20 feet in diameter contains about 2,600 gallons of water. So if the snow near your house melts and starts to run down along the basement wall, your basement could take in some major water. Move the snow about 3-5 feet from your house to try to avoid a flooding disaster.
Keep Listening for Your Sump Pump
Snow melts quickly around the foundation of your home (if you haven’t moved it away from the home as suggested above). Listen to how often you hear the sump pump running. The sump pump’s check valve only lets water flow one way and keeps pumped water from returning back through the line. If the pump running seems to be running very frequently, the check valve could be bad, allowing pumped water to return through it and leading to water in your basement. If you don’t think it sounds right, call a plumber at Putman Plumbing so we can take a look before your basement floods.
Other Tips for Dealing with Winter
It’s still cold in Middletown, so make sure you take all the precautions to keep your pipes from freezing. Leave the heat running, open those cabinet doors, and insulate pipes in the garage or basement that you haven’t gotten to yet to avoid pipes from freezing and bursting into your home. Winter Storm Jonas may be gone, but winter isn’t over yet.
Enjoy the snow as much as you can. If you have plumbing problem, give Putman Plumbing a call.
