It’s going to happen sooner or later.

Spring is going to arrive, the temperature is going to get warmer, and all of this snow is finally going to melt. While this is certainly a reason to rejoice, don’t start restoring all of your patio furniture just yet. When Mother Nature does decide to pump the brakes on this hellacious winter torrent, it’s going to be a rough few days when all that snow melts.

It doesn’t take a geologist to know that when snow melts, it turns into water. That means flood prevention should be your top priority when the weather heats up, as your property is going to be exposed to potentially thousands of gallons of water that needs somewhere to settle.

Here are 3 ways to protect your home from snow melt-related flooding:

1) Move Snow: When the snow begins to soften, grab a shovel and start moving it away from your home. Make sure you move the snow several feet away to an area that isn’t slanted toward your foundation. While this process can be labor-intensive, it will minimize your home’s exposure to water.

2) Check Sump Pump: Make sure your sump pump is working properly. You can check by pouring a moderate amount of water into the sump pit and making sure it responds properly. The discharge hose should carry water several feet away from your home.

3) Sprouts: Make sure your down sprouts are working properly (not clogged or cracked) and are positioned to move water several feet away from your home. Believe it or not, roughly 2,500 gallons of water will come from a 1,000 square foot roof that has one foot of snow depth. To snap that into perspective, that’s enough water to fill three 8-person hot tubs!

If your home experiences flooding, contact Levine & Sons. Our trained technicians will be there to help you assess and clean up the damage.