If your home has a wet basement, you’re dealing with a ticking time bomb that can severely affect the structural integrity of your home and potentially affect the health of you and your family. Fortunately, prompt action can undo the damage and provide you with permanent and safe solutions. Wet basement experts can diagnose the source of the water leaks and drainage problems and find a solution. What follows are some of the most common causes of wet basements:
Grading
The soil surrounding your home should slope away from your foundation walls. This ensures that rainwater is directed away from home, rather than toward it. When your property is inadequately graded, rainwater may end up in your basement and cause significant water damage and even lead to mould problems. Wet basement experts can fix the grading on your property to direct rainwater away and protect your foundation.
Gutters & Downspouts
Gutters and downspouts are used to direct rainwater from the roof toward the perimetre of the house. Gutters may be broken or jammed, and downspouts may be missing or lack extenders. Without a proper gutter and downspout system, heavy rainwater ends up pooling around your foundation and can leak into the basement. Wet basement experts will make sure your gutters and downspouts are properly arranged and direct water away from the foundation.
Window Well
Window wells around basement windows are meant to keep rainwater away from basement walls. If they are inadequately built or become damaged, they may end up directing water toward the foundation. Wet basement experts can repair window wells and install an additional drain tile extension if necessary to direct water away from the foundation.
Sump Pit/Drain Tile
Your sump pit collects runoff water, but can become clogged, broken, or otherwise damaged. In such cases, wet basement experts can repair, unclog, or replace missing parts to get the sump pit working at full capacity once again.
Underslab Duct Drainage
Some homes have heating ducts installed underneath the basement floor. If the drain pipe is higher than the duct, in some cases the duct may begin to collect water. Wet basement experts can make the ducts watertight and installed an additional drain tile to avoid this situation.
Structural Cracks
Your concrete foundation can develop cracks due to settlement or external pressure. Moisture can enter your basement through these holes and cracks. Wet basement experts can either perform an external excavation or install a French drain to resolve your foundation issues and keep your basement dry.
Any and all of these common wet basement problems can be permanently resolved by wet basement repair experts, so don’t hesitate to schedule a consultation today.
