Why Do Basements Leak?
Often, water becomes a problem in basements. It enters through the walls, the joints, pipe openings or other ways. There are a combination of reasons that people’s basements leak.
Clogged French Drains
French drains sit in the mud – and drain all of the water away from your foundation. Over the years, French Drains will slowly become encrusted with mud and debris. Eventually they will clog altogether, and your basement will flood with the overflow of water from your old system.
Failed Sump Pumps
A failed sump pump will cause problems with your basement worse than most other things. It is the heart of your waterproofing – and when it fails, there is water coming in – and no water going out. Having a reliable sump pump with a good battery back up is a must for any basement.
Wall Cracks
It is always somewhat obvious that a wall crack will cause moisture problems. The wall cracks will allow groundwater to seep in through the foundation, polluting your basement.
Hydrostatic Pressure
Your foundation sits deep in the ground, and water always tries to fill the void which it makes. As water presses on your foundation, if there isn’t an effective drain system in place, you will have water squeeze in through your cove joint and flood your basement.
Frozen Discharge Lines
If your sump pump discharge line becomes frozen, your sump will still try to eject water, only for it to come spewing back into your basement. There are many precautions you can take to ensure that your discharge line stays thawed in all weather.
Overflow From Heavy Rains
If you have poor soil grading or an ineffective sump pump, during heavy rains, your home will be susceptible to flooding.
Plumbing Leaks
Your hot water heater and your washer hoses are a very big hazard to your home – if your washer hoses break, they can pump up to 600 gallons of water into your basement per hour. We highly recommend always shutting off your water when you leave home, and investing in our plumbing leak precautions.
Frequently Asked Basement Waterproofing Questions
- Why am I getting water in my basement?
- You can get water in your basement for a handful of reasons. The most common causes are poor drainage around the home which allows water to pool and soak into the ground near the foundation. As this water saturates the soil around the home, it creates hydrostatic pressure which pushes against the walls from the side and floor from below. As this pressure increases, eventually the water can make its way into the basement through small cracks in the walls and floor.
- What do you do if you have water in your basement?
- If you have water in your basement the best steps are to first contact a waterproofing contractor to investigate the problem. If it is a small amount of water, it may have simple repairs such as improving the overall drainage of your property to prevent water from sitting near the foundation or installing a simple waterproofing system to catch and remove any excess water.
- How do I stop my basement from flooding in heavy rain?
- If your basement is flooding during heavy rains, it is important to work with a waterproofing contractor to properly evaluate the situation and come up with a solution. This will very likely result in the need for an interior waterproofing system to be installed which consists of a water collection system that directs the water to a sump pit and using a sump pump to remove it safely.
- What is the best waterproofing for basements?
- The best waterproofing for basements will be a professionally installed interior waterproofing system which will consist of a series of channels designed to collect and divert water as it enters the basement at the footer into a sump pit and use a sump pump to remove the water from the basement.
If you have any questions about how to make your basement waterproof, please contact us today.