How To Fix A Wet Basement: Keep it Dry
A wet basement is one of the worst situations that can happen to your home or business. It is not just costly and a hassle to fix but an unpleasant sight to see.
If you are tired of water seeping out of your basement walls, then you must invest in a good waterproofing system to fix the problem. But with some remedies, you can avoid damage and make your basement a comfortable place to stay in.
This blog aims to provide useful information that can help you fix your leaky basement.
Find the Source of the Problem
It’s important to identify the cause of water entering your basement so that it can at least be minimized, if not completely avoided.
Water can enter your house in several ways, penetrating the walls or flooring of your home. Hence a good idea to start is to locate its source.
The cause of water intrusion is generally divided into two categories: either the moisture comes from inside or outside of your basement.
These are the possible causes of a musty, leaky basement:
- Faulty drainage and gutter system
- Leakage from plumbing works
- Improperly fixed window wells
- Cracks on walls and foundation
- Broken toilets, tubs, or floor drains
By diagnosing the problem, you’ll be able to figure out how to fix it.
Waterproofing Basement Walls
Basement waterproofing is an excellent choice for homeowners who want to protect their assets from the wet, cold air of a basement. It requires less architectural work than repairing or rebuilding a foundation.
The best type of waterproofing to use for basement walls is a liquid waterproofing product. This goes down thin and expands out to fill all the little crevices. However, this is only applicable to masonry and concrete walls.
Locate the wet basement wall and remove any loose material with a wire brush. Follow the safety instructions carefully. Use a masonry cleaner to clean the area if there’s white residue present. Brush the coating in all directions, including vertical, to fill every pinhole and create a continuous waterproof membrane for the basement wall.
Plumbing Fixes
If you notice water seeping into your basement, use hydraulic cement and polyurethane caulk to plug minor gaps around the plumbing pipes and openings.
However, a simple plug solution won’t stop the leaks if the water problem is caused by groundwater and not surface water.
Extending Gutters
Gutter extensions can be a quick, cheap fix to a gutter problem, but they don’t offer much long-term relief.
Repairs to gutters, downspouts, and other drainage systems ensure water flows away from enough to protect your basement or crawl space while keeping your landscaping looking great.
If you have a low spot in your yard from water pooling from the downspouts dumping water just under 5 feet from your house, you may want to look into an underground drainage system.
Restore the Crown of your Home
The crown is the layer of soil beneath your house. If your home sits on a crown of soil that slopes at least 6 inches in all directions for the first 10 feet, this will prevent damaging water pressure on your foundation walls and prevent water seepage into your basement.
However, you may need advice or service from a foundation repair expert to do this.
Installing Interior Drainage System
If leaky basement walls, floors, and ceiling have you down, get back to the basics. Water always finds the easiest way out of the basement, so using interior drainage techniques may be your best bet.
With a few tools and supplies, you can create an interior drain system on your basement floor. Chip out the flooring and saw a channel around the perimeter of the room and lay a perforated pipe. This will direct water to the lowest point in your basement. From there, a pump ejects it out of the house or into a yard via an adjustable discharge pipe.
Clean Footing Drains
You may want to check if you have existing footing drains built by your contractor. If you have, check for possible clogging. You can unclog it by opening the cleanout and flushing the pipes with a hose.
Ask the help of a plumber if cleaning doesn’t help.
Conclusion
Fixing wet basement issues in Erie PA is not a difficult process, however, it does need to be done correctly. Avoid these common mistakes and you will have a dry and pleasant basement for years to come.
Fortunately, there are a few common ways to fix the issue based on your specific problem. You can do it by yourself or ask the help of the experts who can examine the problem and help get it fixed.
If you’re living in Pennsylvania, New York, & Ohio and need more information on wet basement solutions or basement waterproofing services, contact Klein Home Solutions. Call us at 814-456-5605 or email kleinsys@aol.com.