Water in the Basement?
Water in the Basement…
Believe it or not, no builder designs a home to have water in the basement. Over the years however, the foundation can shift, crack, window wells develop leaks etc. It can happen to any home.
Unfortunately the damage does not end with the water alone and the water does not have to be knee deep in your basement to cause you problems. A wet or damp basement can be a serious source of mold and mildew and possibly health problems.
There are 11 basic ways water gets into your basement –
· Seepage from basement window wells…
· Poor grading around the foundation…
· High water table entering parging…
· Basement stairways, poor drainage…
· Cracks in masonry or masonry joints…
· Clogged or lack of footer drain fields…
· Subterranean hydrostatic pressure…
· Horizontal cracks at or below grade…
· Clogged, broken downspouts/gutters…
· Downspouts pour water too close to walls…
· Non-visible undermining beneath slabs...
A damp or leaky basement can cause–
· Deterioration of property value…
· Damage to stored articles…
· Rusting or Corrosion of metal appliances…
· Peeling and cracking of paint on walls…
· Loss of valuable storage and recreation space…
· Possible damage to heating equipment…
· Enlargement of existing cracks…
· Electrical shock hazards…
· Damp, musty odors…
· Warping of paneling…
· Possible respiratory and allergy ailments…due to mold…
Signs of a damp or leaky basement…
· Water seepage on floor…
· Basement dampness…
· Mildew or fungus at base of paneling or drywall…
· Lifted floor tile…
· Peeling paint…
· Damp odor…
· Rust at base of furnace, hot water tank or lolly column…
· Termites and insect infestation…
· Warped paneling…
· Dry rot…
· Cracks in walls or floor…
· White powder on wall at base…
· Buckling wall…
Water and dampness in the basement can be an expensive problem if not corrected immediately… my advice is to not put this one off ... take care of the situation early, and you won't be sorry later...