How To Fix Leaking Basement

Photo by aaron Smith

Originally Posted On: https://www.thefreshaircompanies.com/blog/how-to-fix-leaking-basement/

Having a wet basement can pose many issues to your home. Not only does it feel and smell gross, but can ruin floors and encourage mold to grow.

So how to fix leaking basement? Some leaking basements are as easy to fix by simply cleaning out the gutters that carry the water away from the foundation of your home. However, it can also be more difficult to fix if the problem is coming from other areas. For example, water flowing from the surface towards the home, if you have a problem with water entering from underground, or you are in need of a foundation repair. There are a few actions you can take to help fix your leaking basement.

A simple first fix is if your downspouts are dumping water closer than 5 feet away from your foundation, you can add a plastic or metal gutter extension to help guide the water farther away.

However, these gutter extensions are not considered to be the most effective long-term solution, they can be easy to trip over or even potentially ran over by the lawnmower if forgotten to pick up. You may want to eventually pick a more longer term solution such as a permanent underground drain pipe that is invisible and can direct more water farther away from your home.

If you catch water dribbling into the basement through cracks or gaps around plumbing pipes, you can have the gap plugged with hydraulic cement or polyurethane caulk.

When the water is coming through the holes from either surface runoff or wet soil, then plugging the crack or gap can work well. However, if the water is seeping through the floor or where the floor and walls meet, the problem is then groundwater and unfortunately the plugs will then not work properly.

After plugging all the gaps, another option is to waterproof your basement walls. This will help the interior of your basement from rain runoff, damage from flooding, plumbing leaks, excess humidity, and when pipes burst.

The first step is to peel the existing paint off. Seal/coat the interior of the walls with a suitable masonry waterproof product. When the paint dries, the sealant forms a watertight bond to stop water from seeping through. This is how you can waterproof your basement walls from inside. To ensure it is done properly and will have the best results contact our Charlotte basement waterproofing professionals.

In many instances, the land around your house is sloping towards the foundation and is often times the biggest proponent as to why your basement is leaking and wet. This mainly happens from the rain and other types of water runoff towards the foundation that makes the water leak into the basement. Regrading your land to slope down and away from your house can help direct water away from the foundation.

Overall, how to fix leaking basement is based on where the water is coming from and what kind of piper, land or crack issues your basement and foundation may have. If you are ultimately unsure, you can call the Fresh Air contractors to come out and help you identify the issue and give you the best course of action for your situation.