7 Reasons You Might Have Water in the Basement
Condensation, wet basement walls, musty smells? Is any of this sounding familiar? If it does, you may have water in your basement.
Water in your basement can lead to damaged walls, floors, destroyed carpets, ruined furniture, and even mold buildup.
Now you’re probably wondering if it is safe to leave things in your basement or if you should move them upstairs?
Read on to learn seven reasons why you may have water in the basement and how you can solve the issue and prevent it from happening again!
Warning Signs of Water in the Basement
To begin, in order to be sure that there is water in your basement, you must be able to identify the warning signs. These signs are not as evident as seeing a puddle on the floor.
Here’s a list of other ways in which water in the basement presents itself:
- Saturated base of concrete walls (a ring of dampness)
- Condensation on the walls and floor
- Water trickling out of the walls
- The odor of mold or mildew
- Stained or blistering walls
- Standing water on the floor
- Deteriorating carpet or wood
Found one or more of these signs? Well, you’ve got water in the basement. Let’s find its source.
Finding the Source
Water in your basement normally comes from one of three sources. These are groundwater, interior moisture sources, and ventilation with humid air.
If the source is rain or groundwater, it means that water outside has now found its way inside your basement. This may be due to a lack of proper grading, downspouts, and gutters.
In some instances, the water, you find in your basement was actually created there. Drying clothes, showering, cooking, and humidifiers are all sources of this water.
In summer or warmer weather, in order to properly ventilate you might crack a window. This lets humid, outside air inside which can condense on basement walls and floor. This can devalue your home significantly.
7 Reasons You Might Have Eater in Your Basement
Now that you know that finding the source of the water is important you are now ready to get into the heart of the matter. Let’s look at seven reasons there may be water in your basement.
An Interior Water Leak
When trying to identify the source of water in your basement, begin by checking for inside leaks. Showers, sinks, toilets and bad pipes are all places that can cause leaks. Always find where the water is and check for any leaks in that area.
Fixing a leak is relatively easy. You can do it yourself or contact a plumber. Once the leak is fixed, the water in your basement will be gone for good.
Ineffective Grading
It is important for the ground around your foundation to slope away from your house if it is in the wrong direction because water will accumulate. After accumulating against the foundation, water will gradually make its way into the basement.
To fix this, build up the dirt around the foundation to create a slope going away from your house.
Missing or Defective Gutters and Downspouts
Missing or defective gutters and downspouts will lead to rainwater being directed towards your house’s foundation. This water will eventually accumulate and get inside the basement.
The solution is to clean all gutters regularly. Also, place extenders on all downspouts to disperse water at least 4 feet away from your foundation.
A Cracked Foundation
Water will seep through any cracks in your foundation. Sometimes, it even causes more cracks. A lack of properly connected joists and poor soil drainage also creates cracks.
You should know that solutions will vary according to the cause of the cracks. However, for cracks caused by structural problems, proper footing and connections should be used to seal the gap.
Poor Drain Tile and Sump Pit
Truth be told many homes lack subsurface drainage. In older homes, basements weren’t built with any under the floor drainage system. Even if modern homes have one, they often experience several problems with it.
Building or even fixing a subsurface drainage system is a complex task. Hence, it is best to call in the professionals.
Condensation
When warm, moist air hits your cool basement walls and floor, condensation will happen. However, this is one of the easier basement moisture problems to solve.
If there is a bathroom or kitchen in your basement then use an exhaust fan. Whenever you are taking a shower or cooking turn on the fan to prevent moisture build-up.
Eliminating junk and adding air-conditioning vents are also effective ways to distribute both the moisture and air in your basement properly. Covering areas where condensation normally builds up with insulation will also prevent this problem.
Window Wells
Sometimes window wells will have leaks that cause moisture to build up in your basement. To fix a leak from a window well, simply check if there is a drain outside.
If there is, cleaning it or replacing it should stop the leak. If there is no drain, then go ahead and install one to curb the issue.
Things of the Past
Gone are the days when you had to hurry to preserve those treasured antiques, family heirlooms or that photo album with all the family memories, by carrying them upstairs to safety, because there was water in the basement. There are now several ways professionals can curb this issue.
Having water in your basement can affect your health due to toxic molds. It can also cause serious structural damage to your home and devalue your home. This devaluation will make it harder to sell it should you put it on the market.
If you have water in your basement, act now. The longer the problem remains unattended to, the bigger and more expensive it will be to repair it.
However, the tips presented here offer a sure way to not only fix the problem but prevent it from reoccurring, saving you time, money and reducing stress.
For more tips on fixing the water in your basement, please reach out to us.
Learn more about Sedona Waterproofing Solutions.
