American Flag Veteran Owned, Family Operated
SERVING EAST TENNESSEE SINCE 1978 Five Star BASED ON 76 REVIEWS

June 23, 2016

Helpful Prevention Tips for Homeowners

The lack of April showers has made many forget about the possible dangers of basement flooding. Why worry about your basement when you can spend the day in your garden or playing with your kids in the yard? What’s the point in worrying about flooding when there’s not a drop of rain in sight? Why? Because soon this dry spell is going to turn into a major rainfall, and now is the time to take steps to make sure your home is prepared. I, Ameri-Dry Guy, am here to offer you some helpful tips to help you ensure that your basement stays safe and dry when the rains do show up. Follow these tips below and you will be on your way!

Prevention is the key in keeping your basement dry. There are multiple things that you can do to the interior and exterior of your home to keep it flood proof. Here are a few:

Problems with RAIN GUTTERS can be a leading cause of flooding. Look at the rain gutters on the exterior of your home and make sure that they are not bent or broken. Also, take a look inside the rain gutters and remove any sticks, leaves, or other debris. Broken and clogged gutters cause rain to accumulate next to your home’s foundation, which leads to increased chances of flooding and water damage.

Drainage issues in YOUR YARD can also lead to basement flooding. Be sure the grade of your yard slopes away from your home’s foundation. This will help prevent any rain water from collecting and causing puddles around your home and seeping into the basement. If you notice puddles around the base of your house, call a licensed landscaper to check the grade of your yard and fix any possible issues.

Basement flooding isn’t only an exterior issue. There are many preventative steps you can take to the interior of your home, as well.

Check your SUMP PUMP in your basement regularly. You can check your sump pump by lifting the lid and adding water until the sump float activates the pump. Once activated, you should hear the sump pump turn on and begin to drain the water. If your sump pump does not turn on, check for any clogs or debris. If the sump pump still does not turn on, call a professional waterproofing contractor, like Ameri-Dry, to inspect your current system or install a new sump pump in your basement.

In addition, be sure your home has FLOOD INSURANCE This insurance can be added to many existing policies. Unfortunately, there are some policies that do not include flood insurance for homeowners. Never fear! All homeowners can purchase a separate flood insurance policy through The National Flood Insurance Program. With flood insurance you can have the peace of mind that your basement will be protected for any damage that may occur.

If you notice any signs of cracks in your home’s foundation, the time to act is NOW while it’s still dry. Be sure to CONTACT A BASEMENT WATERPROOFING EXPERT like me, Ameri-Dry Guy, and I’ll be there to inspect your basement and provide you with a free inspection. This is the safest and most effective way to prevent a basement flooding problem.

Now you know how to be your own super-dooper basement flooding defender! Of course, these are merely preventative measures. Sometimes by the time you realize you have a flooding problem, it is too late. But don’t worry: I, Ameri-Dry Guy, am always here for any basement waterproofing issue you may face.

— SIMILAR POSTS

What to read next

August 25, 2026
How Much Does Crawl Space Encapsulation Cost in East Tennessee?

Crawl space encapsulation runs $3,000 to $15,000 for most homes, or roughly $3 to $10 per square foot. Here's what determines where you land in that range, and what each part of the job actually costs. The Short Answer Basic crawl space encapsulation costs between $2 and $4 per square foot, while more extensive projects, […]

Read More →
August 24, 2026
What to Do When Your Basement Floods

A flooded basement can mean a lot of different things. An inch of water from a sump pump hiccup is a cleanup job you handle yourself this afternoon. Two feet of water from a storm surge is a different situation, with different rules for what's safe to do and what isn't. Here's how to tell […]

Read More →
August 21, 2026
What to Do About Water Under Your House

Not all water under your house needs the same response. Some of it can wait a week. Some of it can't. Standing water vs. a hidden leak Standing water under the house is visible and immediate: puddles, saturated soil, or water you can see from the crawl space access. This usually means active drainage failure, […]

Read More →
Ameri Dry Logo
Whether you have water, dampness, musty smells, mold or cracked foundation walls in your basement or crawlspace, we can take care of it all…It’s what we do
Serving East Tennessee Since 1978

We work throughout the Tri-Cities, Greene County, the Knoxville area, and the communities in between. If you're not sure whether you're in our service area, just call and we'll let you know.

Kingsport · Johnson City · Bristol · Greeneville · Morristown · Knoxville · Maryville · Newport · Oak Ridge · Sevierville and more

CONTACT

Free InspectionContact Us
(865) 351-1854
info@ameri-dry.com
envelopephone-handsetmap-marker