Where Is All That Water Damage Coming From?

Whether your basement is your family’s favorite hang out spot, or just an extra storage space, you sure don’t want water down there. Water damage can destroy your personal belongings, and allow mold and mildew to grow. It is important to be educated on how water is entering your basement in order to protect it from being flooded. Here we will discuss the main entry points of water into your home.

1. Cracks in your basement and crawlspace walls: This can be a serious water damage issue, because simply mending the crack will not solve the entire problem forever. If water pressure is causing cracks in your basement, you need to get rid of the water, not just the crack. The best thing to do would be to install a waterproof drainage system around your home.

2. Poor Drainage: If your house is on a slope, rainwater can rush towards your foundation and right over the top of your foundation wall into your basement. If your gutter downspouts are not directed properly away from your house, or they are too short, rain water from your roof could be directly coming down on your foundation wall, and the pressure will increase chances of leakage.

3. “Honeycombs”: If your concrete walls weren’t mixed properly when they were originally poured, they could have multiple air pockets and cavities that resemble a honeycomb. These air pockets can cause seepage, but fortunately they are a quick and easy fix and just need to be sealed.

4. A Broken Sump Pump: The purpose of a sump pump is to collect the excess water and prevent water damage around your home and eject it away from your foundation. A sump pump could fail because it wasn’t installed properly in the first place. It also might not be working properly if its discharge lines were damaged by harsh weather, or if it was not maintained well. A sump pump will usually come with a backup, but we suggest that you also install a second waterproof system to complement your sump pump system so they can work efficiently together to keep water out of your basement.

5. Old Mortar Joints: Cinder block and brick foundation walls are joined together by mortar: a substance that slowly deteriorates over time and becomes more susceptible to water leakage.

6. Drain Tile Water Damage: Drain tile is the plastic piping that goes around the perimeter of your basement walls. Although these pipes are not particularly prone to disaster, they can still be affected by overgrown tree roots.

7. Clogs in the Sewer Line: Uncontaminated water from your sewer pipes can come up through the sink and floor drains in your basement if there is a clog in your sewer line.

8. Sewer pipe leaks: Small leaks from a sewage pipe can go unnoticed for a long time because pipes usually leak very slowly, and they will usually manifest themselves as ceiling stains and mold.

9. Floor cracks: High water pressure against your home can be caused by heavy rains, poor drainage, clay soil, storms and floods. This leads to a buildup of excess water that pushes against the foundation causing cracks in the basement floor. The more water that enters your basement, the more likely it is that your basement will be humid and moldy. This can also increase your energy bill and allow dust mites to enter.

10. Window Well Entrance: Window wells are a clever installment that you can definitely benefit from. They are designed to allow your basement to receive sunlight through the windows while protecting them from excess water from the ground. Unfortunately, other water sources still get in. A common issue is gutter obstruction which may result in rain water spewing out of your gutter and filling the window well. To avoid this, make sure you regularly clean out your gutters, and redirect your downspouts away from your window wells. Also, make sure that your basement windows are good quality and properly installed.

How Can I Prevent Water Damage and Have a Dry Basement in Virginia?

The purpose of discussing why and how water is getting into your basement is not just for your education, but to help you know where to go from here! If you have experienced any of the above water issues in your home, you need to take the next steps to fix these problems and avoid future damage to your basement. Wet basements are not only dirty and unappealing, but they can cause serious health issues and damage the entire structure of your home.

Fortunately, there are many simple and cost-effective methods to fix a wet and damaged basement. The important thing to remember is that the water is your enemy, not the basement. No matter how much digging, replacing, or mending you do, the water will keep coming back, trying to enter your home. It is vital that you keep water as far away from your home as possible through proper drainage. To speak with a waterproofing consultant today about any concern you may have regarding your basement, feel free to contact Reliable Waterproofing & Masonry. Our highly trained and experienced professionals are happy to give you the safe and dry basement you’ve been waiting for!