Ottawa contractor offers flood prevention tips for homeowners

Contractor Ryan joins us this morning with some advice that can help homeowners prevent flooding.

It’s that unfortunate time of the year when basement flooding becomes a risk. Luckily, Ryan Branton, A.K.A Contractor Ryan, joined CTV’s Your Morning Ottawa on Friday to offer a few tips to keep your house water-free.

“We’re talking about keeping water out of your basement, that’s what we’re talking about: flood prevention,” he said. “Right now, outside, it gets warm, it gets cold. We got lots of problems.”

Check your downspouts

One thing Branton says homeowners should keep an eye on is the state of their downspouts, especially this time of year when the weather frequently switches from hot to cold.

Downspouts carry water away from the sides of homes, however, water can collect and then freeze inside them, creating blockages.

“If this freezes up, this water’s going to come down off the roof and go everywhere, maybe go down by your foundation wall,” Branton said. “You got to keep an eye on these.”

For those who find that their downspouts are freezing often, Branton suggests installing a heater cable once this season’s ice has melted.

Additionally, Branton says homeowners should make sure their downspouts are carrying water sufficiently far away from the side of their house.

“You want it way, way out. Get it out there, five or six feet. Get that water away,” he said.

Protect your grading

For those planning to install or refurbish a deck on their property, Branton says it’s crucial to ensure the house’s grade, or the slope of the ground surrounding the home, is properly maintained.

Homes are designed so that the ground and soil surrounding them slope downward, allowing water to flow away and not toward the foundation of the home.

However, Branton says some homeowners accidentally flatten the grade when installing a deck, which can cause plenty of flooding issues come winter and spring.

As Branton puts it, “any type of negative slope” will create problems.

“Whatever you’re doing around your grade, around that foundation, let’s make sure the water flows away,” he said.

Consider installing a backwater valve

Branton says one thing homeowners should consider installing to protect the inside of their homes from flooding, is a backwater valve.

When water backs up and begins flowing in the wrong direction, a mechanism inside the backwater valve will close, preventing flooding. Backwater valves can be installed to deal with sewage, weeping and rainwater backups, Branton says.

As Branton notes, the City of Ottawa offers rebates for certain backwater valves.

Those who already have backwater valves installed should regularly check to ensure they’re still in working order and not currently backed up, Branton says.

“It’s not like every Tuesday you get a backup, so you want to maintenance this. You want to open this up. Make sure this is moving properly,” he said.

“The other problem with these things, is once it closes, the sewage coming out of your house — like your own sewage — is not leaving either. So, you got to keep an eye on that stuff.”

Check on your sump pump before the winter

Sump pumps push groundwater away from basement floors and are critical in keeping basements flood free.

During the summer months, sump pumps will typically only be active during rainstorms, Branton says. However, during the winter, sump pumps will be much more active in pumping away groundwater.

That’s why Branton recommends homeowners check to ensure their sump pump is working before it’s needed most.

“This thing has to work and if it’s not maintained properly, if you’re not after it, then it’s not going to work,” he said.

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