The forecast just said a heavy storm is coming to Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. Your house in Wayland is right in between.
How do you make sure your basement is ready to face all that water? And is there anything you can still do at the last minute to help prepare?
There may be. Let’s discuss it in this blog.
The Storm Is a Week Away From Grand Rapids: You Still Have Time to Fix Something
A week is enough time for more than moving boxes off the basement floor. If part of your waterproofing system is damaged, unreliable, or showing warning signs, you may still have time to address the problem before the first heavy rain reaches West Michigan.
Start your basement waterproofing checkup with the parts of the system that will have to manage the incoming water.
Test Your Sump Pump
Do not just look at the sump pump and assume it works. Test it.
Pour water into the basin and watch what happens. The float should activate the pump, the water level should drop, and the pump should shut off when the job is done.
Pay attention to:
- A pump that does not start
- A float that sticks or cannot move freely
- Grinding, rattling, or other unusual sounds
- A pump that runs but removes water slowly
- A pump that starts and stops repeatedly
- Water remaining unusually high in the basin
If your sump pump stopped working, a major storm is the wrong time to discover it. A week before the rain gives you a chance to replace or repair a failing system.
Check Your Backup Power
Heavy rain and power outages can arrive together. Your primary sump pump may be in perfect condition and still become useless when the electricity goes out.
If you have a battery backup, check its condition and confirm that the backup pump actually activates. If you rely on a generator, make sure it is ready, properly maintained, and capable of powering the equipment you expect to use.
Do not wait for the lights to shut off to find out that your backup plan exists only on paper.
Follow the Water Beyond the Sump Basin
A sump pump is only one part of the system. Once it collects water, that water still needs somewhere to go.
Inspect the discharge line and its outlet. Look for blockage, damage, disconnected sections, or an outlet buried under grass and debris. Make sure discharged water is directed away from the foundation rather than collecting beside the house and returning toward the basement.
Then look at the rest of the drainage system. If you have an interior perimeter drainage system, check accessible areas for signs of backup or previous overflow. Pay attention to the wall-floor joint, especially where you noticed moisture during earlier storms.
Inspect Foundation Cracks and Old Repairs
You do not need to become a structural expert here; just review whether something has changed.
Walk through the basement and check visible foundation cracks. Look for:
- New cracks
- Cracks that appear wider than before
- Damp edges
- White mineral deposits
- Peeling material around an old repair
- Fresh staining below the crack
Pay special attention to cracks that leaked in the past. The same applies to old patches, injections, sealants, and other previous repairs. If you had doubts about an area during the last heavy rain, check that area first.
At West Michigan Waterproofing, we would rather evaluate a suspicious repair before the storm than receive a call after water has already found its way through.
Walk Around the Outside of the House
Your basement waterproofing system starts outside.
Check gutters for obvious blockage. Look at downspouts and extensions. Make sure they have not disconnected or shifted toward the foundation. Inspect areas where water already tends to pool near the house.
Also check basement window wells. Remove leaves and debris, look for standing water, and inspect covers for damage.
If rainwater is being concentrated beside the foundation, the system below has to manage a problem that may have been reduced above ground.
The Storm Is One Day Away from Grand Rapids: Fix What You Can Today
Now the clock is moving faster.
You may no longer have time for a large project, but you still have time to correct basic problems and prepare for the possibility of water.
Go to the store if you already know you are missing something simple. That could mean a downspout extension, a replacement battery for compatible backup equipment, flashlights, protective storage bins, or supplies you know your existing system requires.
Then do another fast inspection:
- Clear debris from discharge outlets
- Remove leaves from window wells
- Confirm downspouts are connected
- Test the sump pump again
- Check the backup system
- Move valuables off the basement floor
- Keep access to the sump basin clear
- Revisit the exact areas that concerned you during the last storm
This is also the time to distinguish between a small last-minute correction and a failing waterproofing system.
A loose downspout extension may be something you can address today. A dead sump pump, an active foundation leak, a damaged drainage system, or a changing crack deserves professional attention.
If you find a serious problem one day before the storm, call West Michigan Waterproofing. Tell us what you found and that severe weather is approaching. Depending on the issue and availability, there may still be time to discuss an urgent inspection or repair.
The Storm Will Start Tonight: Your Last Chance for a Checkup
The forecast has moved from “this week” to “tonight.”
This is your final walkthrough before the rain starts.
Go into the basement with good lighting and look at it as it is now, while it is still dry. That gives you a baseline for comparison later.
Check the sump basin. Test the pump one more time. Listen to it run. Look at known cracks. Check the wall-floor joint. Smell the air.
That last point matters. A musty or damp smell may indicate moisture even when you cannot see open water. If one corner smells different, a finished wall feels damp, or the carpet edge near an exterior wall feels suspicious, remember that location.
Then return to the areas that worried you during the last storm.
Where did you see a dark spot?
Where did the carpet feel damp?
Which crack made you wonder whether it had changed?
Where did you hear dripping but never find the source?
Those are your first checkpoints tonight.
Do not wait until 2 a.m. to discover that the sump pump never turned on.
The Storm Just Passed: What Should You Check First?
The rain has stopped. That does not mean the basement is finished dealing with the storm.
Water can remain in saturated soil around the foundation after the clouds move away. A leak may appear later, and a sump pump may continue working long after rainfall ends.
First, make sure the basement is safe to enter.
Then check the system in this order:
- Look for standing water and immediate hazards. Do not enter flooded areas when electrical risks may exist.
- Check the sump pump and basin. Is the pump still operating? Is the water level under control?
- Return to previous leak locations. These areas may reveal the first signs of failure.
- Inspect foundation cracks. Look for fresh dampness, staining, mineral deposits, or visible changes.
- Check the wall-floor joint. Water may enter here without an obvious crack in the middle of the wall.
- Inspect finished areas. Check carpet edges, baseboards, drywall, and corners for hidden moisture.
- Use your nose. A new moisture smell can point to a wet area you cannot immediately see.
- Walk around the exterior when conditions are safe. Look for pooling water, displaced downspouts, erosion, and problems around discharge outlets.
If you see signs of water entering the basement, contact West Michigan Waterproofing for basement leak repair and a professional evaluation. A storm can expose a weak point that remained hidden during lighter rain.
If the basement contains significant standing water, call for emergency service. Water removal comes first, followed by drying, identifying the entry point, and determining what failed.
Conclusion
Even when time is limited, there are still things you can do to prepare for a West Michigan storm. A quick basement waterproofing checkup can help you catch a small problem before heavy rain puts the entire system to the test.
You cannot stop the weather, but you can protect your property. If your basement waterproofing system needs repair or an update, West Michigan Waterproofing can help you build a system you can rely on, no matter how heavy the next storm gets.
Contact us to inspect your basement and get it ready for the next round of West Michigan weather.