"Leaf Peeper" Edition: What to Look For (Beyond the Trees) in Your Home This Fall

  As the vibrant autumn colors take over the landscape, we’re all out and about, enjoying the spectacle of the season. But while you’re out "leaf peeping," have you thought about what else you should be looking for—right in your own home? Fall is the perfect time to give your house a quick check-up, catching small issues before they become major problems during the winter.

Think of it as a different kind of scavenger hunt. Here are a few things to look for around your home this fall:

• Check Your Gutters and Downspouts: As beautiful as falling leaves are, they can quickly clog your gutters. Clogged gutters can cause water to overflow and pool right next to your foundation, putting it under stress and potentially leading to a leaky basement. Make sure your gutters are clear and that your downspouts are extended at least 10 feet away from your home to divert water properly.

• Inspect Your Foundation: Take a walk around the outside of your home. Are there any visible cracks in your foundation walls? Even small hairline cracks can be a sign of a larger issue and a future entry point for water. A simple check now can save you a lot of trouble later.

• Look for Sloping Concrete: Are your driveway, patio, or sidewalk slabs sinking or sloping towards your home? This creates a perfect channel for water to flow directly to your foundation. Our PolyLevel foam injection system can easily lift and level these sunken slabs, diverting water away from your home.

• Listen to Your Basement: Go down into your basement and take a good look—and a good sniff. Do you notice any musty or moldy smells? Are the walls or floor damp to the touch? Can you see water stains or efflorescence (a white, powdery substance)? These are all red flags that you have a moisture problem.

Finding these issues now, before the ground freezes, is key. When water seeps into cracks and then freezes, it expands, making the cracks even larger and more destructive. A simple inspection now can save you thousands of dollars in repairs down the line.

At Woods Basement Systems, we are experts at finding and fixing these kinds of problems. Our trained professionals can identify the root cause of your issue and provide a permanent solution. Don’t wait for the first freeze to discover a problem. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation inspection and get peace of mind this fall.