Inside your home

1. Inspect plumbing pipes for corrosion or leaks and make any necessary repairs. Avoid discarding fats, oils and grease down drains; they can cause clogs when they solidify.
2. Install a water damage alarm to serve as an early warning. This will give you a chance to turn off the water to your home and minimize damage.



Consult a plumber to inspect your home and determine the best options based on the plumbing and septic/sewer connections of your home. These can include:

3. Installing an automatic back-up pump to your existing sump pump if you have one. Batteries or a generator can be used to power the back-up pump.
4. Installing a backwater valve.

Outside your home

1. Install downspouts to direct water away from your home.
2. Keep foundation and window wells clear of snow so melt water doesn’t accumulate.
3. Seal any cracks in your foundation walls and basement floors where accumulated water might get in.
4. Install window wells around your basement windows to keep water out of your basement. Check them each spring to make sure drains aren’t clogged with debris.
5. Maintain your eaves troughs regularly to keep them clear of leaves, twigs and other debris so they can steer water away from your home.
6. Consider using a rain barrel to collect overflow water to prevent accumulation around your home.
7. Keep storm drains clear of leaves and other debris to keep water from accumulating outside your home.
8. Review our rain checklist for simple steps you can follow to adapt to risks during periods of heavy rainfall.