If you are a homeowner in Minnesota, by now you are used to Winter and likely are excited for it to end and for Spring to bring some warmer weather and some much-needed sunshine. With a recent uptick in temperature, it looks like Spring is just around the corner and we will be seeing the Winter snow begin to melt away.
As a homeowner, this may worry you because when the snow melts that means flooding will follow. And even a few inches of flooding can cause thousands of dollars of damage. So,
what can you do to make sure your home is ready for the melting that is destined to come in the not so distant future?
We’ve got a few handy tips that will help keep your home dry this Spring.
Move the snow away from your house
This one may seem obvious and is most likely something you’ve been doing all year, but the less snow and water near your home, the less likely you are to have issues with flooding.
Clean your gutters
Make sure you inspect your gutters for debris or ice. The winter storms will have deposited a fair amount of debris onto your roof, and when the snow eventually melts most of it will be drained into your gutters. Cleaning your gutters will help free them up for easier water flow for when that snow melts. Keep an eye out for granular loss in your gutters runoff. There most likely will be some granules in your gutter, that is normal, but if you’re seeing what seems to be an excessive amount there may be a larger problem at hand and it may be time to call a pro
There are tools you can find online at Amazon or in retailers near you that will help make this process much easier. Here’s an article with the top 10 best Gutter Cleaning Tools of 2019 for your convenience: https://www.savantmag.com/best-gutter-cleaning-tools-reviews/.
If you’d prefer a professional come out and clean your gutters, we are currently running a gutter cleaning service this Spring. If this interests you, give us a call at 612-284-6985 or email me today at jack@shelter-usa.com for more details.
Check your downspouts
Now this one is critical. Once you’ve cleaned your gutters, that water will have to go somewhere. You don’t want it all leading right back towards your home, right? So, make sure your downspouts are pointed AT LEAST 4 feet from your home to ensure the water stays far away from your foundation. Investing in downspout extensions is something you may want to look into. They are very affordable and will make this process even easier. Your downspouts will also prove useful for the many rainstorms we will inevitably see this Spring.
Test your sump pumps
If you haven’t tested your sump pumps to make sure they are working to their full potential, now is the time. This Spring will bring with it a lot of water, and you need to make sure everything is clicking on all cylinders to avoid flooding. Test to see if yours is working by listening for water draining into the pit. If you don’t hear water draining, it could be because of frozen ground. Test this by pouring a bit of water into the pit, you shouldn’t need any more than a bucketful.
It is recommended that sump pumps be replaced if they are more than 5 years old. They are fairly inexpensive and replacing them shouldn’t take more than a few hours.
Inspect your roof
Once the snow melts, and you can finally see your home’s roof again it’s time to take a closer look. Winter storms can take quite a toll on your roof, so when Spring arrives start by doing your own “from the ground” inspection. You won’t need a ladder or need to get on your roof. A pair of binoculars, a camera, or a high-quality smartphone should do. If you notice any missing or loose shingles, patchiness that could indicate granular loss (remember to check your gutters), or anything that seems out of the ordinary, give us a call and we will come out and do a free full inspection. Or, If you’re in an area that experienced hail or a severe storm in 2019, skip your own inspection and call a pro from Shelter immediately.
Spring is coming, and as usual, it’s going to bring a lot of water. Let’s make sure you are prepared.
At Shelter, we perform free inspections and consultations, and will perform minor repairs during the inspection to small damage that we find. Give us a call at 612-284-6985 or schedule an inspection today on our website!