Freeze & Basement Risk Check for Buffalo

Buffalo takes long, deep lake-effect winters, so pipes on exterior walls or in unheated basements freeze and split, and flood on the thaw. Around 85 percent of homes have basements that take water first, most of the housing stock is older than 1980 with aging pipes, and a fast spring thaw or a heavy rain overwhelms sump pumps and backs up sewers.

Yes. A sump pump only works with power, and Buffalo storms and heavy snow knock out power right when you need it most. A battery backup or a water-powered backup keeps the pit clear through an outage, which is one of the cheapest ways to prevent a finished-basement flood.

Insulate or heat-tape pipes on exterior walls, in the basement, and in crawl spaces, keep the heat on even when you travel, open cabinet doors under sinks on the coldest nights, and let a faucet trickle. Know where your main shut-off is so you can stop a burst fast.

If it is safe, stay off the wet floor, keep clear of outlets and the electrical panel, shut off power to the basement if you can reach it safely, and call. For a sewer backup, do not touch the water, it is Category 3 black water. The crew talks you through the rest on the way.