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Melting Snow Could Pose Flood Risk

(CBS) -- Record snow this winter could mean record flooding soon.

One way to stop all snow that from ending up in your basement is to shovel out 15 feet away from the foundation - if the ground pitches towards the house.

That's a suggestion from Eric Hartmann with Tovar Snow Professionals - who strongly discourages homeowners from getting up on a ladder and pouring hot water in your gutters to thaw them.

Melting Snow Could Pose Flood Risk

He says it would take thousands of gallons to will melt frozen solid gutters and is too dangerous.

Instead, he encourages people to focus on clearing off their sewer drains so the water has somewhere to go.

Joel Spencer with Permaseal suggests homeowners make sure the discharge line from their sump pump isn't frozen.

He says the sump pump doesn't do any good if the discharge line from it is frozen.

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