Get Ready for the Big Thaw!

While it’s not unusual for Calgary to have at least some snow in May, the majority of the cold, blistering winter days are behind us! That means it’s time to get ready for the spring thaw — and it may be a big one. From September to May, Calgarians generally average an annual snowfall of just below 130 cms of snow. But with much of April and all of May to go, we’ve already gone well over that. With that in mind, here are some things you should do to protect your home.

Keep Water Away from Your Foundation.

To prevent water getting into your basement, you need to keep it away from the house. That means two things. First, make sure shovelled snow and ice are piled at least 3 feet (1 metre) from your house. Second, check your gutters and downspouts. Between fallen leaves, branches from winter blizzards, and ice build up, it’s not uncommon for eavestroughs to be clogged. They’ll need to be cleared in order to effectively shed water away from the house.

Inspect Your Backwater Valve.

When snow melts too quickly or there’s a lot of rain in a short amount of time, it’s possible for the municipal sewer system to become overwhelmed and begin to flood. With so much water rushing through the system, the water tries to escape by moving up individual home sewer lines. This causes backups. 

As the rain pours down outside during a thunderstorm, the toilet begins to pop and gurgle. Water spits out all over the floor, even if you put the toilet lid down. Your sink drain may also begin to growl and splurt. If the rain and melt keep up, you’ll soon have water flooding your home from the municipal system. A backwater valve prevents this problem.

These useful, automatic valves detect back flows and close in response, allowing waste water to only flow one-way: from your home’s sewer line into the municipal sewer system. While they can’t protect your home from an internal backflow (ie: when a clog inside your house’s system causes a backup), it will safeguard you from the more severe backflows that result from overwhelmed municipal systems. 

If you aren’t sure if your home has a backwater valve — or you’re unsure whether it’s working — our friendly Calgary plumbers can check and help give you the peace of mind that your home is protected.

Spring is on its way! While we’re looking forward to the warmer weather, we understand that for many Calgary homeowners, the spring thaw brings plumbing emergencies, stress, and panic. It’s a good idea to double check your insurance coverage and make sure that flooding is covered. In Canada, standard homeowners insurance policies often don’t offer flood coverage, so you’ll want to speak to your insurance advisor if flood coverage is a priority for your family. While you’re at it, call the expert Calgary plumbers at Plumbing Paramedics to make sure a backwater valve is installed and working optimally. While being covered by insurance is great, preventing a flood in the first place is better. Call the Plumbing Paramedics today.