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