Protecting Your Basement from Water Damage: What Every Homeowner Should Know

A wet home is a dangerous home, and no one wants a dangerous home!

Water in your basement can cause a variety of issues, ranging from smaller problems like mold and mildew all the way to concrete deterioration and foundation damage. All of these can compromise your health, safety, and the value of your home.

So, as a homeowner, how can you protect your basement from water damage? Here’s everything you need to know.

Why Basements Are Susceptible to Water Damage

It’s no secret that basements are susceptible to water damage, but why is that? There are a few reasons, including climate and weather conditions, poor waterproofing, hydrostatic pressure, and its below-grade location. Some of that basement jargon are concepts homeowners should understand, so let’s break it down.

Weather and Climate: One of the biggest risks to any basement is the climate surrounding it. Homes in moist climates that experience heavy rainfall and harsh winters, are more susceptible to water damage simply due to the overwhelming amount of water. Heavy rainfall puts pressure on the soil and the walls of the basement while winter freeze-thaw cycles can cause cracks in the foundation over time.

To combat this, homeowners can improve drainage surrounding the foundation to move water away from the basement. Additionally, they should be checking the basement regularly, especially after rain or while snow is melting, for signs of cracks or leaks.

Poor Waterproofing: We’re waterproofing experts, so it hurts to see a basement without proper waterproofing measures. Signs of failed waterproofing include persistent water seepage, mold growth, reappearing cracks, high humidity… the list goes on – if your basement is wet, it means that something in your waterproofing measures is failing and it’s time to seek professional help.

Having a professional foundation inspection is recommended due to the myriad of possibilities that could be leading to your water issues. They will have the expertise and tools to properly identify the issue and recommended next steps.

Hydrostatic Pressure/Below-Grade Location: What a mouthful. These two factors go hand-in-hand. Hydrostatic Pressure is defined as, “the pressure that water exerts on a surface when it’s standing still,” so the pressure of water built up in the soil surrounding the basement, which brings us to “Below-Grade Location.” Basements are below ground level, often entirely surrounded by soil, which means they are “Below-Grade.”

The combination of water building up in soil and water-filled soil surrounding the foundation can lead to water issues inside of the basement if the pressure gets to be too much.

5 Key Systems to Protect Your Basement from Water

Homeowners looking for methods to mitigate the risk of water damage will be pleased to know that there are quite a few available. Five of the best systems that will work around the clock to protect your home are:

Sump Pump: A sump pump is a pit in the basement with a pump inside of it. Water enters the pit from a drainage system around the perimeter of the basement, then is pumped outside of the basement where it can drain away from the home. A sump pump is one of the most effective ways to keep a watery basement dry.

French Drains: These work alongside Sump Pumps to collect water from the entire basement and get it out of the home. French drains are a system of pipes that are buried under the perimeter of the foundation, surrounded with gravel, then recovered. They collect water from the edges of the basement and guide it back to the sump pit, where the pump then removes it from the basement.

Vapor Barrier: A vapor barrier is a layer of plastic that can be installed on walls or floor to prevent outside moisture from seeping in. It is often paired with a French drain system, so that any water that comes in is contained and pushed to the ground, where it enters the drain and heads to the sump pump.

Exterior Drainage: Roof gutter systems are a surprising savior for basements. Capturing water running off roofs and managing how it moves away from the home prevents a significant amount of pressure and erosion on the area surrounding the foundation. Gutter systems can be enhanced with a downspout extension, which directs the water even further away from the home, further mitigating the risk of erosion around the home.

Waterproof Coatings: There are multiple types of waterproof coatings for basements. The primary difference between them is their composition, so what materials they are made of, but the result is all the same: apply a coating to the foundation, keep water out. It’s that simple. A professional service would be able to assess your basement and property to recommend the best coating for your home.

These different waterproofing systems can complement one another by working together to increase their efficiency. Homeowners should start with a pump, because it’s important to get the water out, but as components are added to the mix of waterproofing solutions, water will be prevented from even coming in.