Spring Thaw is Coming - Are You Ready?

There may be snow moving through the Midwest right now, but that doesn’t mean that spring isn’t on its way. In fact, spring is less than a month away, and if you live in a flood-prone area, you will need to protect your home from water damage. The team at Big Bags USA can help provide communities and businesses with ideas on how to prevent flood damage
through the use of our portable flood barrier system, but there are still some other things you need to know. Here are a few ways you can prepare for the big spring thaw and not be taken off guard.


Look for Leaks and Cracks

One of the best ways you can prevent water damage from rainwater and snowmelt is to make sure that the exterior materials of your home are well constructed and maintained. Here are a few areas where water tries to get into your home:

Windows & Doors: Look for leaks around your windows and doors, especially near the corners. Also look for peeling paint, which can be a sign of water getting into the wood. Keep your eyes open for discolorations in paint or caulking as well as swelling in windows, doorframe and surrounding materials.

Roof: If there are any areas of your roof where water is allowed to penetrate the roof sheathing, it’s time to repair or replace. Leaks are most common around chimneys, plumbing vents, and attic vents. It can be tricky to locate the exact spot of a ceiling leak, so if you suspect a problem, hire a professional as sonar you can.

Foundation & Exterior Walls: Seal up any cracks or holes in the external walls, joints, and foundations. You will need to examine any locations where piping or wiring extends through the outside walls, and fill all cracks in these locations with sealant.

Plumbing: Look for leaking faucets, dripping or “sweating” pipes, clogged drains, and faulty water drainage systems. You can also inspect washing machine hoses for bulges, cracks, or wetness. Be sure to replace them every few years or sooner if problems are found. Inspect the water heater for signs of rust or water on the floor.

Termite-Damaged Material: Check for termite damage in wood materials. Common places to look would be walls, beams, or floors. Any wood exposed to the exterior can potentially lead to moisture intrusion or termite infestation.

Protect Your Home With Good Maintenance

Flashing: A thin metal strip typically found around doors, windows, thresholds, chimneys and roofs, flashing is designed to prevent water intrusion in spaces where two different building surfaces meet.

Vents: All vents -- including clothes dryer, gable, attic, and exhaust vents -- should have hoods, exhaust to the exterior, be in good working order and have boots.

Attics: Check for holes, air leaks or bypasses from the house and make sure there is enough insulation to keep house heat from escaping. Air leaks and inadequate insulation can lead to ice damming. If ice dams collect around the lower edge of a roof, rain or melted snow can back up under the shingles and into the attic or the house. Check the bottom side of the roof sheathing and roof rafters or truss for water stains.

Basements: Make sure basement windows and doors have built-up barriers or flood shields. Inspect sump pumps to ensure they work properly. A battery backup system is recommended. The sump pump should discharge as far away from the house as possible.


Preparing for Spring 2020

Spring 2019 was brutal for so many in the Midwest. Between the spring rains and the snowmelt, the ground was saturated beyond anything anyone had seen in a long time. Not only that, but then the rivers were overflowing, and the rain just kept falling. Be sure to protect your home not just from damage that comes from rainfall, but also the damage that can come from flooding. Big Bags USA has been approved to work with Schedule 84 to make it easier than ever for communities to get access to our fast flood barrier systems. You can learn more about that through the links below. We hope that you have a safe spring 2020, and even if the floodwaters do come - we hope that you will trust Big Bags USA to help protect your hard-earned property!

MADE IN THE USA ~ 100% Manufactured in Missouri ~ BUY AMERICAN  

If you have an immediate need for our systems or have any questions for us, please call us toll-free at 1-800-337-0537 or visit www.BigBagsUSA.com.


ALWAYS READY TO HELP LOCAL, STATE, & FEDERAL AGENCIES ... BE PREPARED!

Location: Camdenton, MO 65020, USA

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