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