MADISON, Wis. — The rainy season has started a little earlier this year, leaving many Wisconsinites to deal with flooding.
Eric Severson, the assistant store manager at Niemann Ace Hardware in Madison, said spring is a time when many people head to the hardware store to purchase sump pumps.
But he said there are things homeowners can do to prevent flooding before it happens.
“At the beginning of the season when it is starting to warm up like it is now, you want to make sure your gutters are clean and free of debris just so you can get as much drainage as possible,” said Severson.
Severson said it is also important to have splash blocks under every gutter so water does not drain directly into your home’s foundation.
“So a splash block is going to be, water is coming down from your gutters and it is going to hit this and it is kind of going to have a slower release into the ground rather than having a faucet right about where your foundation meets your house,” said Severson.
While a sump pump should not be your first resort, Severson said he believes every homeowner should have one.
“If you are in the realm where you do not have a pump and your basement is already flooding, you are kind of looking at a really bad situation,” said Severson.
He said the main thing to look for when buying a sump pump is a good motor because the better motor it has, the further the water will get pushed away from the home.
“You don’t want to dump that water right outside your basement as it is coming in,” said Severson.
Flooding often leaves precipitation and moisture that many homeowners may not notice, which could result in mold.
That’s why Severson said it’s important to also invest in a dehumidifier or a good fan.
“Mold will turn one problem into a much larger problem,” said Severson.