If you are anything like us, you are dreaming of spring days, complete with beautiful scenery, wildlife, and warm days. Even though spring brings a lot of things to look forward to, it also brings spring thawing, floods, and storms.
Spring thawing can wreak a lot of havoc on your home or building. Knowing how to handle spring thawing can make a world of difference when the time comes. To find out everything you need to know about spring thaw, read on.
What Is Spring Thawing?
Spring thawing, also called thaw weakening, happens whenever the temperatures start to rise, and the snow melts. This time of year is most likely to occur at the beginning of spring. This is a serious issue for those who live in snowy environments, but it can impact areas that see less snow too.
How to Prepare for Spring Thawing in the Richmond Area
If you wait too long to prepare for snow thawing, it could be too late. It can damage homes, buildings, and parking lots. Asphalt is especially likely to be damaged from spring thawing. Here are some things you can do now to protect your home during spring thaw:
Shovel Away Snow
The easiest way to prevent spring thawing is to shovel away snow and keep it away from your home. As snow thaws, it can cause pesky flooding and damage. Just grab a shovel and move it before that happens.
If you have thick snow that is difficult to move with a shovel, you can try using a high power snowblower instead. A snowblower will make it easier to move a lot of snow at once. However, if the environment outside is still this serious, you have a little bit more time to wait for spring thawing to begin.
Elevate Items in Your Basement
Your basement is most likely to flood during spring thawing. Make sure that any personal or sensitive items are high enough that they are not damaged should it flood. You may want to take any items with emotional attachments out of the basement entirely.
Install a Sump Pump
While you are moving things around in your basement, go ahead and install a sump pump if you haven’t already. A sump pump will help pump out extra water from your home, should it flood in your basement.
If your basement floods often, definitely invest in one of these devices. It will make a world of difference. Make sure to select a sump pump that matches your home’s size and flooding needs for the best results.
Inspect Your Gutters and Downspouts
On top of the spring thaw, spring brings a lot of rain. Inspect your gutters and downspouts to ensure rainwater is effectively taken away from your home. Be sure to clean away any loose debris you see. Also, use a high-pressure garden hose to rinse them out.
If you see any ice in the gutters or downspouts, try to thaw them out as best you can. You don’t want that melting ice to add to the effects of spring thawing.
Inspect Your Roof
As you are inspecting the gutters and downspout, check out your roof too. During the winter, ice and snow can build up, causing the roof to get damaged. The very last thing you want at the end of winter is a damaged roof when the spring floods come.
Get Flood Insurance
If you struggle with flooding, invest in flood insurance. Many people don’t realize that floods are not covered by regular home insurance. Buying flood insurance ensures you are protected should your home be damaged in the process. If your home does not see flooding, you might want to save your money and skip getting this insurance.
What to do if Spring Thawing Damages Your Home
If spring thaw snuck up on you or it was worse than it has been in the past, you might find that the flood has damaged your home. If that’s the case, don’t panic. Here is what you should do:
Remove Any Standing Water
If there are pools of freestanding water in your home, clean them up immediately. Freestanding water will create more damage and mold. If there is too much freestanding water for you to clean up, you might need to call a professional water clean up team.
Make sure to be careful around standing water too. If you see any electrical outlets or items with an electrical charge near the standing water, be incredibly safe so as not to electrocute yourself. Make sure everyone in your home also knows to be careful around the water.
Call a Damage Restoration Service
You may also need to hire a water damage restoration service if the freestanding water caused any severe damage to your home. This is especially true if the water damaged the walls, foundation, or any other part of your home that cannot be removed and needs immediate care.
A water restoration service can remove any freestanding water, dry out the home, and protect against mildew and mold. Though a restorative service will cost more than doing it yourself, it is money well spent since it protects your home and makes it livable.
Install Prevention Methods
After everything is cleaned up, you should install some prevention methods for next time. If your home is flooded once, it can flood again. Some of the best prevention methods include updating water flow systems, installing sump pumps, and more.
Talk to a professional to learn the best tips for protecting your home. Since flooding can be caused for a number of reasons, it is best to get a professional’s opinion about how to address your home’s individual needs.
Conclusion
Even though it is still winter, spring thawing is quickly approaching. Start preparing now to save you the hassle of removing water later on. Preparing for spring thaw isn’t that difficult, but it can save you a lot of money down the line.
If your home has been affected by spring thaw or any other flooding, contact VRS today!
