Warm weather causes rise in calls about Saskatoon house floods

As warmer winter days continue in Saskatchewan, homeowners are being faced with the unexpected challenge of water flooding into their homes.

Kevin Gurney, the construction project manager for Saskatoon Fire and Flood, said the business has received an influx of calls from homeowners about the problem.

Gurney said because of the warm spell, the company is receiving calls earlier in comparison to last year, but predicts there will be a second wave of calls when spring rolls around.

When snow sits beside a house, there are penetration points in the foundation such as cracking that water can get through with hydrostatic pressure, he explained. That causes the water to come up through cracks in floors.

The best way to eliminate a possible flood is to keep the snow clear around the foundation of a home and off the roof to prevent ice damming, he said.

Gurney added that having proper eavestroughs and downspouts that are directed as far away from the home as possible are also important factors.

Having an attic with proper ventilation can also help reduce the condensation buildup that can leak onto finished ceilings.

Flooding can be an issue with both old and new houses, he explained, adding that properties without landscaping like grass or flower beds can be a direct target for water to get into the basement.

If a basement does start to flood, Gurney suggested a homeowner should call Saskatoon Fire and Flood and their insurance company, and remove anything sentimental that has not yet been damaged.

If flooding is an issue that persists, Gurney suggests that homeowners have their house foundations waterproofed, or get a sump pump.