Basement Flood Prevention Checklist

Why it matters

A wet basement means ruined drywall, flooring and stored belongings, plus mould risk and insurance hassle. Much of the protection is cheap, seasonal work you can do yourself.

The routine, in order

Outside

• Clean eavestroughs each spring and fall.
• Give every downspout an extension long enough to land its water two big strides out, on soil that falls toward the yard.
• Kneel at the foundation and see if the dirt tips outward, especially where flower beds were built up.
• Clear leaves from window wells and fit covers.

Inside

• Every March and October, dump a pail into the sump crock and watch it cycle.
• Check the discharge line outside is not frozen or buried.
• Look into the backwater valve access cover, if you have one, and clear debris.
• Keep floor drains clear and with water in their traps.
• Store valuables in plastic bins on shelves, not cardboard on the floor.

Mistakes to avoid

• Connecting downspouts or a sump to the sanitary sewer, which can overload it in storms.
• Assuming a sump pump means no risk of a sewer backup; they solve different problems.
• Finishing a basement before you know its water history.

Where a plumber takes over

Installing or replacing a sump pump, adding a battery backup, and fitting a backwater valve are plumbing jobs, the last needing a permit.