If you can’t resist the urge to repeatedly check your basement for flooding after a heavy rainstorm, you’re not alone. According to a new study, basement flooding can cause long term problems to your mental health, the Windsor Star reports.
Take it from Donna Desmarais and her husband Jack, a retired couple of LaSalle, Ontario who endured years of ‘agitation’ after having their home destroyed by flooding — not once – but twice.
“At first, every time there were bad clouds in the sky we would go running home to check everything to make sure there were no problems,” Desmarais said. “You do have anxiety for quite awhile.”
Donna and Jack are far from the only couple to experience basement water damage; in fact, of all homes with basements, over 98% will experience some type of water damage. And this study, conducted at the University of Waterloo and its Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation, shows that the results can last for years.
“What we found is flooding is not just about dollars and cents…There are real people going through this. We have tried to put a face on it,” said the report’s co-author Blair Feltmate. Feltmate is also the head of the climate adaptation center and a teacher at the university’s faculty of environment.
While Donna and Jack had to invest in new sump pumps and a new generator, they also had concerns about their insurance policy.
“You get afraid to make another claim because they will cancel your insurance,” Desmarais said. “It’s all very concerning for people.”
On top of having to deal with insurance agencies and severe damage, the study also indicates that having to take time off of work was also a major stressor. In fact, it’s not uncommon for people to get up in the middle of the night during a heavy rainstorm and check the condition of their basement because of the anxiety.
Regardless of whether or not you’ve personally experienced basement flooding before, it’s impossible to ignore that these results are startling. But remember that keeping your basement dry is as easy as investing in basement or crawl space waterproofing services. If you’re wondering how to keep your crawl space moisture free, we can help. For more information about how to keep your crawl space moisture free and gain some much-needed peace of mind, contact Dry-Tek Environmental.
