What have you done to protect your house against rain like the recent record-setting deluge in Toronto, which caused an estimated $1 billion-plus in damage and left many homeowners with a frightening mess to clean up, including rap star Drake?
More intense storms are just one of the many faces of climate change, according to climate scientists. There’s no reason to think Ottawa homes and families are immune to climate change and its ravages, including torrential downpours.
With that in mind, here’s some of what you can do to protect the home you love. You should get started on these things now, because letting things slide is only human and when it’s too late, it’s too late.
Roof: A semi-annual inspection will alert you to missing or damaged shingles, faulty caulking and flashing that needs repair or replacement. Stay off the roof — a dangerous spot even for experienced roofers — and use binoculars for your check. An occasional inspection by a professional roofer (see our business directories) is a wise investment. More on roof inspections.
Gutters: Keep them free of debris and in good working condition so water flows away from your foundation. That means regular inspection and cleaning, ensuring joints are solid, and that downspouts extend at least 120 centimetres (four feet) from your home or further if your property is flat. You’d be surprised how often they can become blocked, particularly if there are a lot of trees around you. If a storm with significant rainfall is predicted, give them a check. More here.
More: How to protect your home against climate change
Window wells: The simplest way to keep rain out of window wells, where it could get into your basement, is to install clear plastic covers. They start at less than $40 at building materials stores. For full protection, make sure your window wells extend about 20 cm (eight inches) below basement windows and are kept clear of leaves and other debris. Bonus: covers keep wild animals, including skunks, from getting trapped in window wells.
Caulking: Check the caulking around windows and doors in the spring and fall. It helps keep water outside your home and also reduces outside air infiltration that increases your heating and cooling costs. Replacing caulking is an easy DIY task when you know how (again, be safety conscious if using a ladder).
Grading: Correct grading is essential for runoff. That’s especially so with a recently constructed home, where backfill around the foundation can settle, which may lead to water flowing toward your foundation instead of away from it. The correct grading for a home is a drop of two to seven cm (three inches) for every three metres (10 feet).
Sump pump: The sump pump protects your home by pumping water that could accumulate in your basement or crawl space into a drainage area outside the home. Test the sump pump every three to four months and keep it clear of mud and debris. Some experts recommend a battery-powered backup pump in case yours fails or a power outage occurs during a bad storm. Testing and cleaning information here and here.
Basements: Don’t store valuable items in the basement even if you’ve taken all the flood-avoidance precautions. Make sure you have a backwater valve to prevent city sewers from backing up into your home if the sewage system becomes overwhelmed in a storm (some homeowners are eligible for financial assistance to install a valve).
Storm drains: If you have a municipal storm drain or catch basin in front of your property, keep it clear of debris and check it for blockage after an intense storm. It is an essential part of the city’s stormwater management system and helps protect both you and your neighbours from damaging rainfalls. Cities generally have too many drains to keep them all clear all the time, so lending a helping hand is part of being a good citizen and helps protect your own property.
More ideas
There are other things you can do to mitigate intense rainfalls. They include replacing paved driveways — which prevent the ground from absorbing excess water as well as contributing to the “heat island effect” in built-up areas — installing rain barrels (great for watering your garden when dry weather returns) and creating rain gardens to absorb excess water. Learn more here and here.
If you live in a Priority Stormwater Retrofit Area, you may be eligible for a City of Ottawa rebate of up to $5,000 for residential rainwater management projects. More here.
