Snow can hold a lot of water. To prevent it from becoming a flood problem, you can take several preventative measures.

  • Avoid having snow drain next to your house. Make sure your downspouts carry water several feet from your house to a well-drained area. One foot of snow on a 1,000 sq. ft. roof can produce approximately 2,500 gallons of water.

  • Don’t allow snow to accumulate on the ground next to your house especially if the ground is flat. As snow melts, water could accumulate and seep in. Moving accumulated snow just a few feet away from the house can help avoid a wet basement.
  • If you have a sump pump, test it periodically and keep it clean from debris. Make sure the discharge hose carries the water several feet away from the house to a well-drained area. Also, make sure that the pipe is on sloped ground so it drains to prevent it from freezing.
  • Remove large piles of snow to a well-drained area. A 20-foot diameter, 10-foot high pile of snow contains about 2,600 gallons of water.

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