Home Flood Protection
Reduce the Risk of Basement Flooding
Summer downpours can drop a tremendous amount of water in a relatively short period of time. All homes – even those that have never flooded before – are at risk of flooding.
What you can do
- Access free self-help home flood protection resources.
- Extend downspouts at least two metres (six feet) from your basement walls. The further the water is from the foundation, the less chance that it will make its way into your basement. Splash pads can help direct the water to a permeable surface, such as a garden or lawn. Alternatively, you could recycle the storm water by diverting it into a rain barrel for later use in your yard.
- Clear debris from your eavestroughs (gutters) to prevent them from overflowing. If your eavestroughs or downspouts overflow even when they are clean, install larger ones.
- Build up the ground slope around your home. Soil should slope down from your foundation and window wells for at least two to three metres (about six to ten feet) at a drop of at least 10-20 centimetres (about four to eight inches). If water soaks into the ground within the backfill zone, it will accumulate next to your basement walls and floor, where it can leak in or damage the foundation. Check your ground slope annually, because soil, sidewalks, patios, decks and driveways can settle over time.
- Check the drainage paths on your property. Ensure that storm water flows to the lane or street, not towards your home. It also shouldn’t flow into your neighbour’s yard! Property should be graded to keep water flowing in the right direction.
- Fix leaks in walls, floors, windows and doors.
- Install window wells around basement windows. This will prevent your window sills from leaking and rotting. Keep window wells free of leaves, branches and other debris.
- If you have protective plumbing, such as backflow valves and sump pumps, make sure they are working properly. Learn more about Protective Plumbing.