Is there a musty odour in the basement that was not apparent a month ago? Do you put down damp patches on the walls to be found again in the wake of a hard rain? Or are you left to question if that little puddle at the floor drain is of concern?
You would not be the only one. We at United Water Restoration Group of Toronto make it our business to help homeowners in Toronto and the GTA get ahead of trouble so it does not end up as a flooded basement. For assistance, (647) 370-3979 is the number to put us on.
A basement will seldom flood without some kind of forewarning; the evidence can be there for weeks or months on end before the water comes in. It is a matter of being able to recognise it. Here we will outline the early indications that a flood is in the offing.
Musty Odors and Damp Air
The nose tells you first. An earthy, stale smell in your basement is usually an indication of unseen moisture. That sort of dampness is what mold is made of, and it is the same environment that precipitates flooding. Should the air below ground feel thicker than in the rest of the house, consider it a red flag and not something to put up with.
Wall and Floor Clues You Should Never Ignore
Before you see any water, your floors and walls have already given away the story. On your next time in the basement, look for:
- Hairline or other cracks in the foundation
- A white, chalky substance on the concrete from moisture making its way through
- Paint on the lower walls that is peeling or has bubbled
- Discolouration or stains at the base of the wall
- Buckling or warped flooring
- Rust on support posts, appliances or metal fixtures
One of these could mean water is getting in; put two or more together and the risk is high.
Drainage and Grading
Water will take the easiest route to your foundation. Go outside and check the lay of the land. Soil that is sloped to the house rather than the opposite will have rainwater pooling against the walls until it seeps in. Clogged gutters and downspouts are equally problematic; if they do not let water run off the roofline it will spill down by the foundation and soak the ground. Clearing the gutters and having the downspouts put their discharge a few feet from the house is an easy enough way to mitigate this.
Your Sump Pump
In a lot of homes in the GTA the sump pump is all that stands between you and a flood, provided it is in working order. Make sure to give yours a test now and then. If you hear a grinding or rattle, or the pump is cycling more than it should, or you see standing water and rust in the pit, take note. A pump that will not engage when the pit is full is no good. There is nothing more common than an old sump pump giving out in a storm and leaving a homeowner with a flooded basement. Do not leave it to a downpour to discover yours has failed.
Slow Drains and Sewer Backups
Be observant of your drains. Gurgling from the toilet, several drains running slow at once or water backing up in the floor drain are tell tale signs of line problems. With a sewage backup you are dealing with contamination as well as water, so this is where you want to call in the professionals instead of putting in the effort yourself.
When You See the Signs
To nip a costly disaster in the bud you need to spot the warning signs and act on them. But if the water is already there, then it is about speed.
We are here for that. As an IICRC Certified Firm, every one of our crew is IICRC-certified and we are on hand 24/7, holidays included. A call to United Water Restoration Group of Toronto will have an operations manager at your door in under an hour for a same-day inspection. We put your property back to how it was before the loss with professional water damage restoration and stand behind it with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, and we work with all insurances.
Our crews are locally owned and we cover the whole of the GTA, from Etobicoke and Mississauga to Vaughan and Markham.
Should you be seeing any of the above or if you have water coming in, do not put it off. Let our team put a stop to further damage. Call us at (647) 370-3979.