Preventing spring runoff and seepage

We're not talking about flooding problems. What we're talking about is the kind of sneaky seepage that melting snow has a way of bringing to a head, especially melting snow around your foundation. Fortunately, not everyone with snow on his or her lot falls victim to water seepage.
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Related Tips
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Negative slopes
Eaves troughs
Patio and driveway
Cracks
When major trouble strikes
The sump pump
Window wells
The floor drain
Flat roofs

Negative slopes

Before there's seepage, there must be water around the house and the water must find its way into the house. And this can happen if your house sits down-slope from melting snow, causing the water from the melting snow to congregate around the foundation. In these circumstances, it's rare that water doesn't find its way into the house. If the slope isn't too steep, it can be reversed. Simply raise the level of the ground surrounding the house by adding clayish soil that will keep water away from the house. For this to work, the new slope should incline by 2 inches to the foot and be at least five-foot long.

If the slope is very steep, in hilly countryside for example, you'll have to dig a ditch, a dumpwall or a French drain. In such cases, you should hire a contractor because this type of work requires heavy equipment.

Eaves troughs

In the same vein, it's important to channel the thousands of litres of water that flow out the eaves troughs away from the house. But here the solution is relatively simple and inexpensive. All you need to do is to place a concrete slab or a horizontal extension of the drain pipes, sloping away from the house, at the bottom of the eaves troughs.

Avoid locating flower beds where there are no eaves troughs. Grass provides better drainage around the foundation.

Patio and driveway

If a negative slope running away from the patio leads water towards the house and through the foundation, you can add concrete to reverse the sloping. As for driveways with negative slopes, you can dig a drain hole at the bottom of the slope and connect it to the French drain that surrounds the house.

Cracks

As noted, you must do everything in your power to keep water away from the foundation. Unfortunately, it's very difficult, if not impossible, to eliminate 100% of the water that is found in your soil. So, once you've taken preventive steps, you must eliminate whatever cracks let water into your house.

Small cracks can be plugged with hydraulic cement that can be found at your home renovation centre. But that only works with very small cracks. Major cracks will require an injection of epoxy resin, over their entire length. This kind of work requires the help of a specialized contractor.

When major trouble strikes

If none of these tips works for you, there are two solutions left. Both require the services of a contractor and are expensive. The first solution consists in digging a culvert by breaking the concrete slab that forms your basement floor over a width of about 6", around the entire perimeter of the basement. Gravel and soil must then be removed from the culvert so as to reach the footing. Holes are drilled at the bottom of the foundation wall, where it meets the culvert, to drain the water into the culvert. Then, gravel is added at the bottom of the culvert over which a perforated drain pipe is laid. Finally, the culvert is connected to a sump equipped with a sump pump. The pipe is covered with crushed stone before new concrete is poured to close the culvert. Water is then directed to the sump through the drain culvert.

The sump pump

Sump pumps are installed in a well (sump pit) cut through the basement floor. When the water level rises in the sump, it raises a float which, in turn, activates the pump. Because these pumps rarely used in winter, you must be sure they're in working order and, if necessary, clean them out, in the early spring. All you need to do is to fill the sump with water. If the pump starts and drains the sump, you're in business.

Window wells

When basement windows are below ground level, outside wells, with gravel bottoms, must be built and connected to the drainage system that circles the footing of the house. If these wells don't drain properly, water will seep into the house. So, be sure to check the wells from time to time, especially during spring thaw, to avoid unpleasant surprises.

The floor drain

Basements with floors that are higher than the drains typically don't require sump pumps. A floor drain is enough. As is the case with sump pumps, these drains are seldom used in winter. So you must make sure they're in good working order and unplug them if necessary. That will often spell the difference between a wet floor and a flooded basement.

Flat roofs

Snow accumulates on flat roofs during winter. When the sun melts the snow, it will drain through the roof drain, provided the drain isn't clogged. If it's clogged, you risk water damage through your roof and ceilings... much worse than damage through the basement. It's in your interest to check the roof drain from time to time.
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