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Health & Fitness

April showers bring May flowers, but it also brings wet basements and mold - gross!

Spring is in the air! I love this time or year, but one of my biggest fears is water getting in our house... especially the finished basement. The worst part about the water, (of even just a little dampness), is the mold that is sure to follow.

Did you know ONE inch of water on a 1,000 square feet of roof amounts to approximately 623 gallons of water?  That's a LOT of water, so it's easy to imagine how a torrential rainstorm could mean big trouble for a home that is not properly prepared. 

Here are a couple maintenance tips to help keep the water flowing AWAY from your house and foundation:

  • Clean your gutters to ensure the water is flowing properly.
  • Make sure all your down spouts are pointed AWAY from your house and foundation. The water draining from your gutters should be diverted, so that it does not drip directly into the soil next to your foundation. Your best bet is to install gutter extension on the bottom of the down spout to re-direct the water several feet away from your house.
  • If you live on a small lot - make sure your neighbor's down spouts are not draining toward your house. 
  • Make sure your sprinklers are watering the grass not the house.
  • Do a visual inspection of the basement and attic (if possible).  If you think you have a mold problem - have a professional come a look at it. Some molds are TOXIC!!
Keep and eye out for my special edition article "State of CT does NOT have educational or competency requirements Home Improvement Contractors.  So what's a license good for?"

If you have any home improvement/maintenance questions, comments, or want to suggest a topic - I invite you to leave a comment below.
Cheers!
kim  

Kimberly Spanier, Owner
Everything Under the Roof, LLC  
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