How to prevent basement water seepage
Basement water seepage can be a major problem in houses, especially if you find yourself with a damp basement. If your basement smells musty or has a higher humidity level than the rest of your home, you may have a problem with water seepage. Whether it is coming through the walls or pooling on the floor, there are several ways you can help stop water from penetrating your house. Here’s how to prevent drainage water seepage and keep from having a flooded basement!
A basement water seepage is a common problem. Seepage causes wetness in your basement that can lead to mold and mildew, wood rot, structural damage, and other problems.
Finding the Source of Basement Moisture
Basement water seepage typically happens after a heavy rain, or during spring thaws, when the ground cannot absorb excess water. Look at the perimeter of your house’s foundation for pooling water. If water seems to collect on one side of your house, look along that wall inside your basement for signs of moisture, such as damp carpet or warped drywall. You may be able to see beads of water seeping through cracks or seams in your basement walls.
Preventing Water Seepage
Once you know where the water is coming from, you can take steps to prevent further damage. Be sure your gutter pipes direct water well away from your home’s foundation. Build up the landscaped elevation around your home so that water will naturally run downhill, away from your house.
Inside, use a caulking gun to apply waterproof epoxy to any cracks in your basement walls, especially if you saw water seeping through them.
If these do-it-yourself options aren’t enough, call a professional basement waterproofing team. They will apply an external waterproofing seal to your basement walls.
Repairing Existing Water Damage
As soon as you notice basement moisture, set up fans to dry the area. This will help prevent mold growth. Depending on how extensive the damage is, you may be able to patch the damaged drywall rather than replacing the entire section.
If you see signs of mold on carpeting or drywall, consider calling a professional water damage restoration company. They have the experience and safety equipment to remove mold-damaged carpeting and clean the area safely.
Finding Hidden Mold
If your basement has had a water seepage problem for a long time, you may have a problem with hidden mold, even if you do not see evidence of damage. Mold grows best in dark places, such as behind drywall and under carpet. If you repair the cracks that allowed water to seep in, and dry the area thoroughly, but still smell a damp, earthy odor, call a mold remediation specialist. Chances are there is mold growing in an inaccessible area of your basement.
About Vince Sandri
Vince Sandri is a content writer and blogger with more than 12 years of experience. His expertise is in creating content related to disaster restoration, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like flooding, water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold growth, storm damage and more.
Vince has been the main contributor to RestorationMasterFinder.com since 2014. Over that time, he has written numerous service pages and blogs for disaster restoration providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restoration to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like flooding, fire, smoke, and mold can cause as well as the best ways to respond to these issues to limit the damage.
Vince completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Aurora University and his master’s degree at DePaul University. He has been writing SEO website pages, blogs, and press releases since 2012. Vince is also a musician and can be seen playing in the Chicago, IL area.
