Englewood Basement Drainage Calendar, Month by Month

Why a calendar helps

Most of the work that keeps a basement dry is small: a gutter cleaned, a downspout reattached, a pump tested. The trouble is remembering it at the right time. Gutters cleaned in July do nothing for the October leaf drop, and a sump pump tested in December says little about how it will behave after a March blizzard melts. Put the tasks below on a phone calendar as recurring reminders, adjust them to your house, and add notes about anything that went wrong so next year's list is better.

Through the year

January: Check that the sump discharge line is not frozen or buried. Look at the basement after any warm spell melts snow on the roof.
February: Review your insurance policy for water backup coverage before the wet season. Note the limit and any sump language.
March: Heavy wet snow season begins. Shovel snow away from foundation walls and out of window wells before warm days.
April: Reattach downspout extensions removed for winter. Do the full window well inspection. Run the sump pump test.
May: Clean gutters of seeds and spring debris. Walk the yard during a rain and note where water flows.
June: Hail season. After any hailstorm, clear gutters and downspouts of ice pellets and shredded leaves before the next storm.
July: Watch basement humidity. Run a dehumidifier if readings stay high and check for condensation on walls and cold pipes.
August: Late-summer storms can be intense. Retest the sump pump and confirm any battery backup holds a charge.
September: Good month for regrading soil against the foundation and fixing walkways that tilt toward the house.
October: Clean gutters after leaf drop on tree-lined blocks. Clear leaves out of window wells and stairwell drains.
November: Disconnect hoses and shut off exterior faucets. Consider a sewer camera inspection if the lateral is old and has not been checked.
December: Check the basement after the first big snow and thaw. Keep a flashlight and wet/dry vacuum where you can reach them.

Quick monthly glance, any time of year

Walk the basement perimeter and look at the base of each outside wall.
Look into the sump pit, if you have one, and listen for the pump cycling during wet weather.
Check the floor drain for odor, which can mean a dry trap; pour a little water in to refill it.
Look under the water heater and washer for drips or rust.
Check that nothing is stored directly on the floor against an outside wall.

General information for Englewood, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.