3 Simple Ways to Prevent Water Damage

When hot and cold air mingle during transitional seasons, it often means that heavy rain and occasional flooding are close behind. If you’ve had to commute between Richmond Hill, Savannah, Pooler, or Hilton Head in these past couple of weeks, then you’ve experienced some of the standing water that’s plagued our state’s streets. But rising water and problematic city drainage systems are not just a threat to your car tires and engines; water damage is the number one cause of a cracked home foundation. And with lingering dampness comes termites, mold, and mildew alike, causing numerous unforeseen expenses for reparation. Protect your home from suffering extensive water damage this season by following these routine maintenance tips:

  1. Ensure Good Drainage

It’s relatively rare to find a home in a no-flood zone in Georgia. And although a property’s zoning isn’t a death sentence for its core, it’s a good idea to look for homes with yards sloping away from the foundation. In the event that your area experiences a bit of standing water, the runoff will cascade away from your property and onto the pavement, where it can better find its way to the city’s drainage system. We recommend that your house slope at least 6 inches within 10 feet of your home’s foundation.

  1. Hydrate Your Yard

If you don’t have the luxury of selecting a new home with an downward-sliding slope, opting for dense, (preferably) clay soil to create proper grading can prevent moisture from accumulating under the foundation. Alternative soils have the potential to sink during long dry spells. Although this might not be an immediate issue, it will become one when heavy rain inevitably returns. An influx of moisture will cause the soil to rapidly expand, putting pressure on and threatening to crack your foundation. For yards with loose sod or soil, regular hydration can keep your yard–and therefor your foundation–level.

  1. Clean Your Gutters

Keeping your gutters clear is probably the cheapest and easiest way to prevent standing water around your foundation. A path that is free of blockage allows water to run freely through them. When blocked, a heavy rain will send cascades of water down the side of the house and straight into the ground around the foundation. Clean gutters will ensure that both your siding and foundation stay damage-free for years to come.

With any luck, you’ll never need to consider these tips for maintaining a solid foundation. But if you do, adding these tasks to your to-do list can make the threat of flooding “water under the bridge.”