Basement Moisture And Waterproofing Troubleshooting GuideThere are mysterious pools of ugly water standing in your basement. Why has this happened to YOU? It's tough to say, but it probably has something to do somehow with your basement’s waterproofing. Find the cause and you can solve the problem. Here's a troubleshooting guide to help you figure it out...
Is It Coming From Inside Or Outside?
This questions if your first step in figuring out the problem. Moisture can be leaking into your basement from outside, or it could be condensed moisture from inside. There is a great way to figure this out, and it takes neither a degree in rocket science, nor any tool fancier than a strip of plastic tape.
Take that strip of tape and put it over the area where the water is collecting (for example, the place where water keeps appearing on the wall). Check back the next day or so and see where the moisture collects. If it is on the outside of the tape, it's in your basement. If it is between the tape and the wall, it's coming from outside.
If you have a leak, you probably have hydrostatic pressure building up outside, and because your basement is not properly waterproofed, it is leaking in. If you have a concrete wall, it is probably coming through the capillaries in the material. You will need to install some kind of waterproofing and try to control the water seepage from outside.
If it's moisture from inside the house, you probably have a ventilation problem, or it could be simply too much humidity in the room. Make sure you get air going through the basement, and try using a dehumidifier to dry things out.
Is Your Yard Sloped The Wrong Way?
This is a common reason for water from outside. The "hydrostatic pressure" that I mentioned before refers to the build-up of water underneath your yard somewhere. Because of the type of soil or other obstructions underground, the water has no place to go, so it ends up in your basement.
One way to fix this problem is to do a little reconstructive landscaping. Slope your yard so that the water will roll off of it and away from your foundation. This is not as big a job as you might expect it to be.
Another tell tale sign is puddles of water after rain, or piles of snow in the winter, collected right up against your house. This is a sign that your yard isn't sloped right.
Could It Be The Gutters?
It certainly could be. If your gutters are clogged or not working properly for some other reason, of if you don't have gutters at all, that water is making a long journey from way up on the roof to way down in the basement.
This is a simple problem to solve. If you don't have gutters, install them. If you do have gutters, check them periodically to make sure they have no debris blocking the water flow. This debris could be just about anything, but it is often leaves and sticks from nearby trees.
When you see a problem with your gutters, deal with it quickly, or you'll definitely have water in your basement.
Waterproofing Always Helps
There is no way to keep a basement completely dry. It is just the nature of basements - they get moist and sometimes flood. But, the best way to keep your basement as dry as possible is to install waterproofing.
Most houses do not have proper waterproofing. It should be some kind of rubber membrane material that will cover the outside walls, and stretch to fill cracks as the house settles. There are also spray-on liquid rubber solutions that will work for minor waterproofing jobs.
Your basement shouldn't look like the Great Lakes, and it shouldn't smell like a pair of lake shoes. These are the most common basement moisture issues, and good waterproofing will definitely help.
If you need professional help with your basement, contact Aqua Seal USA. They are a waterproofing company that specializes in basements and other leaky parts of your house. Aqua Seal USA will handle your waterproofing, and they also offer a variety of waterproofing products to help you keep it dry.
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