Water damaged basements

There are not many things that are as upsetting to someone than showing up at home and finding a basement water loss, or walking downstairs and finding mold damage all around and feeling helpless. The damage can be rather severe and can range from water damaged hardwood, wet sheetrock and insulation and water logged carpet and pad. Wet contents can also be ruined especially if the water damage has been ongoing for a while before being discovered and irreplaceable items like photo albums and family heirlooms can only add insult to injury. But knowing the causes of wet basements and how to prevent water damage can help avoid this frustration.

In order to fix a basement that’s suffered water damage and prevent it from occurring again it’s it imperative to know where the water came from in the first place. When homeowners experience wet basements for the first time, it is imperative to determine if the water problems are going to reoccur or if it was a one-time event. A vital step in solving this question is investigating where the water source is. In well populated areas there are various sources of water that can enter a basement and cause damage, firstly after a storm surface water can run down foundation walls and then into the basement. Secondly groundwater in already water-logged earth can be pushed into the basement by water pressure and can also cause huge problems. Storm sewer water from the municipal storm sewer system can back up into the home’s existing perimeter foundation drain and leak into the basement. Although this can only happen if the perimeter foundations drain system is connected to the municipal sewer system. Lastly sanitary sewer water from a combined municipal storm/sanitary sewer system backing up into the home’s drain system, can cause sewer water to come up through sink drains and floor drains on lower levels.

To prevent, or at a minimum lower the chance of water related problems due to water entering the basement here are a few handy tips:

• Water found in basements and under a house can be indicative of a plumbing leak or unacceptable drainage, which can result in structural issues and mold problems which could force the fact that amold removal company needing to be hired.
• Inspect your homes gutter systems often and remove any debris to prevent blockages.
• If you live in an area with trees that continually shed their leaves, purchasing gutter shields could be a worthwhile investment.
• Make sure your downspouts extend several feet away from the house to carry water away from the foundation. If they don’t, you can purchase extensions that attach to your downspouts.
• Check where the gutters meet the stucco on the outside of you home, sometimes builders don’t stucco behind the gutter end piece correctly and water could be pouring into your home without you knowing.
• Fill in any low spots around the house and amend any cracked paved areas or paving that slopes towards the house so water drains away from the foundation.
• Inspect caulking around windows and doors and replace as needed where cracked or deteriorated.
• Check the flashing at chimneys, vents, skylights and other connections for damage or deterioration.
• Check the grade of the earth around the house to determine if it slopes towards or away from the house as that may be the source of the water? If they do slope towards the house, an engineer may need to be called to evaluate the situation and come up with an appropriate solutions.
• Is there a lawn/shrub irrigation system discharging too much water next to the house? Avoid placing lawn irrigation next to the house.