Prevent Flooding During Montana’s Spring Thaw

It’s been a wet spring in Montana with rain and a late Spring thaw. With snow still in the mountains, it’s a perfect time to make sure your home is protected from flooding. Below are a few tips to help you enjoy the warmer weather instead of spending time and money on water damage due to spring flooding.
• Purchase flood insurance in advance. Check your homeowners’ policy as most don’t cover flood damage so you will have to purchase flood insurance separately. Also, check to see how long it takes for the insurance to become effective once you’ve secured it.
• Remove debris from gutters and downspouts. Clogged gutters and downspouts cause overflows. Cleaning them out allows water to freely move away from your home.
• Inspect your roof to ensure there are no cracks or loose tiles. This can prevent leakage into your walls and home if you catch issues early and repair them.
• Inspect your foundation and remove any snow around it. Trapped water around your foundation can seep into any fissures and easily cause damage. Also check any flood drains around your in or around your house to make sure they are unobstructed so any water can freely enter them and not cause backup or clogging.
• Relocate or elevate items in your basement or main level. Always make sure you can protect your valuable items by either elevating them or moving them to a higher level than ground or basement.
• Clean and test your sump pump. Install a sump pump if you do not already own one. It will protect your basement from flooding by pumping water out and away from your home.
If your home still sustains water damage regardless of your prevention methods, contact ServiceMaster Restore of Flathead County. We are here to help with professional water damage restoration in Western Montana.