A wet basement is never a friend to you or your home. When water gets in, consequences like mold growth, damage to furniture and personal belongings, and health effects are always involved. If you have a wet basement, it’s important to clean up the water right away, find the source of the problem, and figure out the best solution to keep your basement dry, with the help of a waterproofing professional.
Water Source: Inside or Out?
Water in your basement either comes from outside, inside, or a combination of the two. For instance, excess humidity in the basement can cause water to condense on cold surfaces and create a moist and musty environment. From the outdoors, rainwater, melting snow, or groundwater can seep through the foundation, or water may leak through cracks in the walls.
Solutions for Drying out a Wet Basement:
1. Humidity Reduction and Insulation
Humidity in basements is common; a popular solution for the basement is a dehumidifier that can process excess humidity to make air drier. You may also need to insulate pipes and other parts of your basement to prevent condensation.
2. Gutters and Downspouts
The trick to keeping water out of your home is to keep it away from your foundation at all times. Gutters should be kept clear of leaves and debris so that water can adequately collect and drain. You may need to add gutters or extend downspouts so that water can be deposited far enough away from your foundation that it won’t leak into your home.
3. Exterior Waterproofing
When water in your basement comes from a problem with your home’s foundation, the solution may be exterior waterproofing. While this is a big project that calls for an excavation, it is often the most effective solution and one that requires little to no maintenance after the fact. Exterior waterproofing involves digging several feet down to the foundation wall where drainage is corrected, often through a French drain system.
4. Interior Waterproofing
Interior waterproofing is considered the least invasive and most common wet basement solution. This type of waterproofing helps to address groundwater that seeps through walls or the foundation. Typically, a new drainage system is installed with a sump pump in the basement floor. Water from the ground is rerouted to collect in the sump pump and then deposited a safe distance away from your home.
Because most water problems are unique to the home they affect, there is rarely one definitive solution. In many cases, the problem stems from a combination of sources and the solution will depend on your home and how it is constructed. Once water problems are properly identified, a Gillece Waterproofing Specialist can determine the best way to move forward to keep water from coming back and your home continuously safe, dry, and comfortable.
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