Can I Avoid Flooding to My Simsbury House by Maintaining My Gutters?

8/4/2022 (Permalink)

Homeowners have to deal with many things which may include water damage. Contact SERVPRO right away.

SERVPRO Can Remediate Flood Damage in Simsbury Regardless of the Cause

When flood waters rise in your basement, it hardly seems possible that the cause could be something as ordinary as aging rain gutters. Few systems are more critical in directing precipitation away from your home than the gutters and downspouts attached near your roofline. In the hustle and bustle of busy family life, inspection and maintenance of your gutter configuration can go by the wayside.

How Do Gutters Protect My Foundation from Flooding?

The rainwater on your roof combines hundreds of square feet of runoff into large quantities flowing over the eaves. Flood damage to your Simsbury home occurs if the gutters are clogged or missing. Gutters should direct the significant volume of water into the downspouts, which, when positioned correctly, drain water more than ten feet away from your foundation. Pooling and overflowing gutters concentrate the water as it falls, causing it to pour directly to the ground next to your house. 

How Does the Water from Malfunctioning Gutters Get into My Foundation?

The runoff then saturates the ground, creating puddles and pools adjacent to the foundation. Pressure builds in the ground, and the excess water begins to seep in through the foundation materials. You might have a concrete, cinderblock, stone, or brick foundation. These materials are somewhat porous, and the moisture eventually moves from the wet ground to the dry basement.

Are There Any Other Factors that Increase the Possibility of Flooding from Broken Gutters?

If the ground immediately next to your foundation slopes toward your home, the excess absorbed and puddled water can flow more easily into your basement. The slope next to the foundation should be down and away from your house. If you have plantings near your exterior walls, erosion from rain and planned watering can alter the appropriate slope without you noticing the change.

If poorly maintained gutters and downspouts direct water into your foundation rather than away, SERVPRO of The Farmington Valley can help remove the flooding and dry out your home. Call us at (860) 675-4500 to schedule an assessment and develop a plan.