Snowmelt Basement Flooding in Trinidad & Raton: Prevention and Cleanup

Southern Colorado's first big snow usually doesn't hurt anything. The trouble comes a few days later, when a warm, sunny afternoon turns two feet of snow against your foundation into a puddle that goes looking for the lowest spot. In Trinidad, Raton and along the I-25 corridor, that low spot is often a basement.

We're Stars & Bars Water Restoration, veteran-owned and IICRC certified, based in Colorado City. This is what we'd tell a neighbor about snowmelt flooding: how to prevent it and what to do in the first hours if it happens.

Why snowmelt floods basements

Snow itself is harmless. The water it makes is the problem, and it usually gets in one of four ways:

• Snow piled against the foundation. Shoveling the driveway into a bank along the house puts the meltwater right where it can seep through cracks and window wells.
• Frozen ground. Soil that is frozen or already saturated can't absorb meltwater, so it runs along the surface toward your walls.
• Clogged or frozen downspouts. If the downspout is iced shut or the extension is buried, roof meltwater drops straight next to the footing.
• Overwhelmed sump pumps. A pump that runs for hours during a thaw can fail, especially if it hasn't been tested since spring. See our guide to sump pump failure and basement flooding.

Older homes in Trinidad and Raton, with stone or block foundations and basements that were never fully waterproofed, tend to be the most exposed. Homes on a slope are exposed too, since water runs toward the downhill side.

Before the snow: a 20-minute prep list

1. Clear window wells of leaves and debris, and check that the covers fit.
2. Extend downspouts at least 5 to 6 feet from the foundation, and make sure the extensions drain away from the house.
3. Look at the grade. Soil next to the foundation should slope away from the house. Add fill where it has settled.
4. Test your sump pump. Pour a bucket of water into the pit and watch it kick on and discharge. If you have a battery backup, check it too.
5. Move valuables off the floor in basements and crawl spaces, and store things in plastic bins rather than cardboard.

During the thaw: what to do

• Shovel snow away from the foundation, not toward it, when you can. Even moving it 6 to 8 feet helps.
• Clear a path for water around window wells and the lowest parts of the yard.
• Check the basement during and after warm afternoons. Water usually shows up at the floor-wall joint first, and it can start as a damp line before it becomes a puddle.
• Keep a flashlight, a wet/dry vacuum and some heavy-duty bags nearby.

If water gets in: the first hours matter

Standing water and wet materials start causing secondary damage quickly. Mold can begin growing in 24 to 48 hours on wet drywall, carpet and cardboard.

1. Stay safe. If water is near outlets, an electrical panel or appliances, don't wade in. Shut off power to that area from a dry location, or call an electrician.
2. Stop the source if you can. Redirect downspouts, clear a window well, or shovel snow away from the wall.
3. Photograph everything before you move anything. Your insurance adjuster will want it. Our water damage insurance claim guide walks through what to document.
4. Remove what you can with a wet/dry vac, mops and towels. Lift furniture off wet carpet and put foil or blocks under the legs.
5. Start airflow. Run fans and a dehumidifier if you have them. Cold, damp air dries slowly, so don't rely on opening windows in October.
6. Don't ignore it once the water is gone. Wet drywall, insulation and the pad under carpet usually need to come out or be dried professionally. See how mold follows water when drying is delayed.

Does insurance cover snowmelt flooding?

It depends on how the water got in, and policies differ. Water that enters from the ground or seeps through a foundation is often treated as a different kind of loss than a burst pipe, and many standard homeowners policies exclude flood or groundwater seepage unless you've added coverage. We can't tell you what your policy covers, so read it or call your agent before you assume. For more on coverage, see our mold and water damage insurance FAQ.

When to call us

If water is more than a puddle, if it has been in the house more than a day, or if you smell something musty, call early. We bring pumps, extraction equipment, moisture meters, air movers and dehumidifiers, and we document drying so your claim file is clear.

Our water damage restoration page lists what we do, and we serve Trinidad and Raton, NM along with the rest of Southern Colorado. We also wrote a dedicated piece for Raton water damage.

Basement taking on water right now? Call (719) 676-2456. We answer 24/7.

The short version

Move snow away from the house, extend your downspouts, test the sump pump, and check the basement during thaws. If water gets in, photograph it, dry it fast, and call someone who can measure moisture rather than guess. Questions before the snow flies? Call (719) 676-2456 and we'll talk it through, no charge.