Laurie Bauer , CAIB | Business Development Manager , TW Insurance Brokers

There are some things in life you don ’ t look to experience — especially when it comes to your basement flooding . If you ’ re like a lot of other people , you might use your basement to house an expensive home entertainment system , store old sentimental belongings , or have other things that are important to your business .

Along with damaging property , basement flooding can cause long-term health impacts to you and your family . Instead of going down that path , continue enjoying your space the way you want and make sure to follow these tips on flood maintenance , home inventory , and coverage options .

Keeping Your Basement in Order

The Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction ( ICLR ) provides info on key areas that may require attention to reduce the risk of basement flooding to your home .

Here are some easy and free things that the ICLR has recommended :

● Never pour fats , oils , or grease down your drains !

● Reduce home water use during heavy rains .

● Keep the storm sewer grates on your street clear of yard waste , leaves , garbage , ice , and snow .

● Clean and maintain your eavestroughs and downspouts at least once a year .

● Store anything expensive , valuable , or irreplaceable upstairs .

It ’ s important to have the right insurance coverage whether you rent or own your home .

These are some initial steps to prevent basement flooding . However , if you have had water in your basement in the past , you need to take more significant steps to protect your home .

Before you start making any changes make sure to :

● talk to your local municipality through public works , utilities , or building departments .

● talk to your insurance broker to find out what types of water damage are covered under your policy .

● get a plumber to conduct a survey of your home .

After you ’ ve had the chance to speak with your municipality , insurance broker , and service professional , you could also potentially invest in :

● disconnecting your weeping tile and installing a sump-pump .

● installing a backwater valve in accordance with your local municipality .

● cleaning and maintaining your sewer lateral pipes .

● installing basement window wells .

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