Every year, the winter months bring with them a host of problems. The snow and ice create icy roads, slick sidewalks, and a messy daily commute. It’s easy to stay inside during the frigid days and evenings when it isn’t necessary to clear sidewalks or shovel every afternoon, but then when spring comes around, all that work will have been for nothing. Just as the winter months can create many problems, so can spring bring with it a multitude of problems if you’re not prepared ahead of time. Here are some tips to prepare your home for spring flooding:

1. Acquire flood insurance in advance
It is not good to prevent flooding by building a higher home. The probability of flooding increases the closer you are to a river or a body of water. But this does not mean that you should panic and build as high as possible. Building too high can make your house vulnerable to sudden floods, and whether or not floods harm your home depends on where you live and how frequent they are. If you live in an area prone to flooding, you should purchase this insurance cover. This will help reduce the risks of flooding. To obtain a quote for your home, contact your insurance agent or a flood insurance specialist.

2. Clean out gutters
Gutters can be filled with all sorts of debris, including leaves, twigs, and pine needles in the fall, which causes blockages when rainwater collects. This causes a great amount of water to collect around your home’s foundation, and this can cause serious problems when there is heavy rainfall or flooding. The longer blocks are left in the gutter, the more severe the damage. Cleaning out gutters is a very easy task to do, and it will save you money in repairs later on because of flooding. It’s best to clean out your gutters twice a year. There is more water and leaves fall during spring, so this is the best time for your first cleaning. And in fall, it’s best to clean out your gutter before snow begins to fall.

3. Inspect your basement
Basements are susceptible to a variety of problems, including flooding. If you have a basement, make sure that you inspect it. Basement floods can be very serious and costly to repair. It’s best to become familiar with the different warning signs of flooding and if you notice any, contact your local plumber immediately. One common sign is a musty smell coming from the basement caused by leaks. Basements should be inspected regularly, but they should be checked thoroughly before major rainfall or spring.

4. Check walls and foundation
When you purchase your home or move into a rental home, you should have the basement inspected. This is important because it’s best to identify any problems early on, and then you can have them repaired before they cause major damage to your property.

5. Move other valuables
If there is a flood, you should move your valuables to higher ground as soon as possible. This will reduce the damage or loss of your goods significantly. It’s important to remember that storage should be well-ventilated and dry. If your goods are wet and placed in storage, they will increase the likelihood of mold growing on the property. The more moisture present in your goods, the greater the chance of mold growth.

6. Check the drainage around your house
You should also try to find out if the stormwater drainage system around your house is working properly. There are many problems with stormwater drainage, and you can also check out if there are any sewer problems in the area and if your house is located on a flood plain that poses flooding risks. When you’re buying or building a home, it’s best to have it located on the higher ground since this will reduce the chances of flooding.

7. Install water alarms
Water alarms are very useful for alerting you in case of water leaks or flooding. They can also help save time and money. There are many different types of water alarms on the market today, but you should always consult a plumber to see what type would work best for your home. This is because they aren’t all created equally.

8. Install a sump pump
A sump pump is a very useful device that can help prevent flooding problems in your home. If you have an underground water tank or plumbing, you should have a sump pump installed. It’s best if the discharge pipe isn’t the same size as the inlet because this will create turbulence in the pipe, which can cause clogging and flooding.

It’s always best to prepare for any flooding. Flooding can cause a lot of damage to property, and it’s important that you plan for it in advance. It may seem easier to wait until the next storm hits, but by preparing now, you can prevent them from happening in the first place.