Where basement water is concerned, you need to be aware of a few things. The first thing to consider is how much water is the snow really holding? It is 10 inches of snow equals 1 inch of water. But that is only when it is very very cold out. In a lot of snowstorms, it is warmer out. The warmer the temperature, the larger the snowflakes, which means they actually hold more water. So, it can actually mean that 10 inches of snow holds 2 inches of water.
Additionally, your home has a roof which is pitched in most cases and is holding snow. So when that snow melts or falls to the ground, that's an additional amount of snow, meaning additional water. The ground is usually frozen, and you have some thaw from there too.
Unfortunately, the water wants to find a way into your basement. In case of a violation in the foundation, before a storm, move boxes and belongings away from the wall of your foundation. One area where water can enter is through basement cracks where the cement floor meets the wall. If you do have water coming in there, you want to find out where specifically because that can be repaired.
You also want to check and see if there are any cracks in the foundation wall and you also want to look for 'dimples'. Dimples in a poured concrete foundation wall are called tie-rods, and water can come in that way. Water can also enter your basement around the sils, windows and bulkheads. Those are areas you want to look at, so you know where you need repairs. That way you will only spend hundreds of dollars rather than thousands.
But what is the harm, or danger, of having water in your basement? The danger from water in your home is threefold. One, it is a pain-in-the-neck to have to clean up all the time. Two, water causes mold. This can cause problems for those with allergies, as well as healthy people. Third, water enters basement cracks and freezes. This makes the cracks grow. Then you are stuck with even larger repairs.
For more information on basement crack repair, contact A1 Foundation Crack Repair.