| Remedies for a Wet Basement | | | | is actually leaking, the water should not |
| | | | just "appear". You should be able to see |
| By: Robert Clarke | | | | where it's coming in as it leaks, in the form |
| | | | of a puddle or stream or water. |
| A wet basement can be just a nuisance or even | | | | |
| real nightmare. Each year, thousands of | | | | Helpful Tips |
| homeowners are faced with the unpleasant side | | | | |
| effects of seasonal rainfall. Problems they | | | | Your rain gutters should be cleaned of leaves |
| can face range from just dampness to even | | | | and debris at least once per year. |
| flooding. Chronic basement leakage is a | | | | |
| serious problem that can destroy personal | | | | Downspouts should direct water runoff from |
| property, furnishings, appliances, and | | | | the roof to a discharge point at least |
| sometimes even cause permanent structural | | | | several feet away from the homes foundation. |
| damage to a homes foundation. Excessive | | | | Use a splash block at the end of your |
| moisture is a huge attraction to wood-eating | | | | downspout to avoid soil erosion. Never bury |
| insects, wood rot and decay. | | | | your downspout lines unless you can empty |
| | | | them out to daylight. |
| Despite the pervasiveness of the problem, few | | | | |
| homeowners are aware of the causes of water | | | | Buy a good dehumidifier to lower the natural |
| leakage. | | | | humidity level in your basement. Make sure |
| | | | your dehumidifier is the proper size for your |
| Common Causes | | | | basement. Ask for a drain hose attachment so |
| | | | you don't have to empty the water collected |
| One common cause of basement leakage is | | | | every day. Get a unit with a built-in |
| improper surface drainage, such as a yard | | | | de-icer. Dehumidifiers are actually |
| sloped toward the home. In many cases, the | | | | refrigeration coils and can freeze up and |
| problem can be greatly alleviated by | | | | stop working. |
| re-grading the yard to slope away from the | | | | |
| homes foundation or diverting surface water | | | | Keep the doors and windows to your basement |
| around the house. | | | | closed, year round. Opened doors and windows |
| | | | allow extra humidity to enter your basement, |
| Other common culprits include poorly | | | | causing condensation. Your dehumidifier will |
| positioned rain gutter downspouts, missing, | | | | also run less. |
| leaking or clogged rain gutters. A downspout | | | | |
| that is improperly positioned to drain | | | | Waterproofing Paints and Sealers There are |
| against the side of the house, allows water | | | | several good waterproofing paints and sealers |
| to build up along the foundation wall, until | | | | on the market today. Waterproof paints and |
| the backed-up "reservoir" finds a weak spot | | | | sealers can work well for minor dampness on |
| in the foundation wall. | | | | walls and floors. Pay special attention to |
| | | | the preparation instructions from the |
| The most difficult cause of basement leakage | | | | products manufacturer. Be aware though, |
| is a high water table. A high water table | | | | interior waterproof paints and sealers don't |
| problem occurs when the home is built too | | | | do anything to alleviate the "source" of the |
| deeply in the ground, into the level where | | | | problem. |
| water remains constant throughout the year. A | | | | |
| high water table problem can also be caused | | | | Time For a Professional? A professional |
| by under ground springs or sustained periods | | | | basement waterproofing contractor can offer |
| of rainfall that cause the water table to | | | | you a variety of solutions, depending on the |
| rise during the wet seasons. | | | | source of your problem. Methods can include |
| | | | outside excavation, installation of drain |
| Is it Leakage or Condensation? | | | | tile, parging your walls, interior drainage |
| | | | systems or epoxy cove systems |
| You should try to determine if your problem | | | | |
| is actually water "leaking" in or if it's | | | | Summary Prevention is always the first and |
| just condensation forming on the cool | | | | best approach. Look closely at the grading |
| surfaces. Condensation occurs when warm, | | | | around your property and make sure your rain |
| humid air comes into contact with cooler | | | | gutters are in good working order. Get a good |
| basement walls, floors, water pipes etc. | | | | quality dehumidifier to reduce humidity in |
| | | | your basement. |
| As an example, just take a cold bottle of | | | | |
| soda out of your refrigerator and set it on | | | | If you've done your best to correct your |
| the counter. After several minutes, you'll | | | | problem and it still leaks, it might be best |
| notice steam forming on the outside of the | | | | to bring in a professional. Check companies |
| bottle. After many minutes pass, you will see | | | | for local references, ask for a certificate |
| a small puddle of water forming at the base | | | | of insurance, check the companies warranty to |
| of the bottle, as the beads of moisture start | | | | see what's covered and check them out with |
| dripping down. This is a classic example of | | | | your local Better Business Bureau. |
| condensation, not "leakage". If your basement | | | | |