Is there water in the basement? Avoid mold and other issues by preventing leaks in your basement.
A soggy basement is more than just an annoyance. If you have completed living space in your basement, any moisture can harm the carpeting, drywall, and structure. Even if you have a crawl space or simply utilize your basement for storage, moisture may bend hardwood flooring on the level above and spawn dangerous mold. Learn how to prevent leaks in your basement by patching basement wall cracks, checking for appropriate drainage, and more!
Stop the leaks by following the tips below!
Patch Cracks & Seal Walls
Walk around your basement and look for cracks in the walls. Remember to remove any furniture or décor from the wall for a complete inspection. If you have a full basement, begin by fixing foundation cracks and sealing basement walls. Use hydraulic cement, which expands as it cures, for cracks of 1/4-inch or bigger. Next, address outdoor access sites for both basements and crawl spaces by fixing cracks in the driveway using a cold-mix asphalt patching compound. Use regular cement for a concrete sidewalk or driveway.
Clean Gutters
Your home’s water drainage system includes gutters, eavestroughs, and downspouts. Their primary function is to deflect rainwater away from your property that has fallen from your roof. However, if they get clogged, damaged, or improperly installed, water can begin to gather by your foundation, resulting in leaky basements and foundation concerns. Grab a ladder and examine your gutters and downspouts up close to prevent clogging. It’s time to start cleaning if you see trash, leaves, or water.
Ensure that the earth surrounding the foundation slopes away from the house at a rate of one inch per foot for a distance of four feet. Also, if necessary, extend downspouts so that gutters drain 4 feet away from the house onto splash blocks. Many houses already have an underground drainage system. Unfortunately, after several decades, the system frequently disintegrates or fills with silt. You can hire a drain and sewer cleaning service to unclog the pipes with a long power snake. However, they frequently have to be capped off at the surface and abandoned. Drain rainwater from gutters into a dry well, which is a pit lined or filled with gravel or a tank that allows runoff to gently seep into the earth.
Inspect the Window Well
A fast check of your basement window wells might prevent leaks in your basement and foundation. When performing the window well check, there are two things to keep an eye out for. The first indicator is drainage problems in the window well, which might include silt contamination of the gravel, water buildup, or debris such as leaves. If you see any debris, clear up what you can and keep an eye on the problem. The second indicator to check for is discoloration on the walls of your interior foundation behind windows. This is an indication that moisture has gotten between your window frame and foundation.
Add Land Grounding Around the Foundation
Poor grading around the foundation exterior is one of the most prevalent causes of basement leaks that we encounter. This occurs when the earth slopes towards the foundation or when new backyard landscaping does not allow for appropriate water drainage. A stroll around your property during or after a big rain is the greatest approach to examine for grading issues. If you find water pooling or the ground level slopes towards your foundation, this is an indication of probable water damage. Any low patches in the grass may be repaired by adding soil and reseeding.
Inspect the Sump Pump
Sump pumps are your first line of defense against rainwater-induced groundwater surges. They function by sucking water from beneath your house and away from the foundation. However, sump pumps, like other household equipment, require maintenance and inspection to ensure they are in good operating condition. Here are some of the most important things to check for while evaluating your sump pump:
- Examine the power supply; breakers on the pump outputs might trip, turning off the sump pump without your knowledge.
- Fill the basin with a tiny amount of water and see how the sump pump responds.
- To eliminate any material, inspect and clean the sump pump’s grate.
- Check that the electric pump is hooked in and operational. Breakers on the pump outputs can trip, causing the sump pump to shut down.
- Examine the drain pipes that take excess water away from your home.
- Check that the sump pump is level. Small vibrations of the motor might compel it to move if it has been operating for the last 6 months.
Install Moisture Monitors
While bi-annual inspections for water concerns in your basement are essential, leaks may occur quickly. These rapidly growing basement leaks are frequently caused by sewage back-ups, sump pump failure, or strong rains that raise groundwater levels. Investing in a moisture detector is the greatest preventive measure that addresses all of these hazards. These gadgets may continuously monitor your basement for leaks and notify you of non-visible symptoms of moisture or basement leak concerns. Several new moisture detecting gadgets have joined the market in the last three years, and costs have come down. The functionality of these gadgets ranges from text-message warnings at the high end to audible sounds at the low end.
You should not have to worry about basement leaks. Instead, follow the tips above. Do you have an unfinished basement that may have leaks and you want to finish? Then, you came to the right place. Our skilled team of stress-free experts has your back. If you would like to get started, give our team a call today.
