How to Prevent Basement Water Seepage

Does your home have a basement? Is getting water out of your basement and fixing the underlying problems your only concern these days? Wet basements are result of heavy rains or winters. But, don’t worry! We have professional tips to prevent basement seepage.

Plug Gaps

Monitor your plumbing pipes. If you see the cracks or gaps around your basement that are making way for water to enter, plug these openings with polyurethane caulk or hydraulic cement.

1. Remember: Plugs work just for the holes building from wet soil or surface runoff. But, if the source of water is joint where the floor and walls meet or just the floor plugs won’t work in that case.

Restore the Footing Drains

If your problem is hydrostatic pressure (pushing water up from the ground) in other words if the water is leaking into your basement low or at the joints where walls meet the floor. The very first step that you need to do is to check your footing drains. Footing drains are underground pipes fitted into the house when it was built to carry water away from the foundation.

If the drains are jammed, remove the cleanout and rinse the pipes with a garden hose. If this doesn’t work, you can take help from a plumber.

Attach Gutter Extensions

Are downspouts dumping water less than 5 feet from your home? Consider adding metal or plastic gutter extensions. This way you can guide water farther out.

1. Remember: Adding extensions is not a reliable solution. Think of adding underground, a permanent drain pipe that is capable of shifting the large quantities of gutter runoff from your house.

Renovate the Crown

If you have plugged the visible holes and fixed the gutters, but still the water is dribbling in your basement, then there might be the chance that surface water isn’t draining from your home in the way it is supposed to go.

Consider restoring the “crown” of soil. Create a slope that is at least 6 inches over the first 10 feet in all directions. Once the soil gets settled, you can build it again with dirt and shovel.

Pump the Water

If your basement is created in a way that it can’t drain out the water, you will need to find the solution to channel the water out.

You can consider creating an interior drain system. In order to do so, you will need to saw a channel around the perimeter of the floor, separate the concrete and lay the perforated pipe in the hole. The pipe will flow to a collection tank at the basement’s low spot, where a sump pump expels it out the house. An interior system is the least disruptive and convenient option for the unfinished basement.

1. Expert Advice: If your yard is filled with mellow landscaping due to which you cannot use the exterior drainage system, an interior drainage system would be best for it.

Mold the Landscape

To avoid rot and termites produced by building up the crown, create a mound of dirt (berm) or a swale (a wide, deep ditch), landscape features that restrict water long before it could reach your house. Berms can easily be grown in small areas, a landscape contractor can help you in building it. In areas where you need to add more soil, consider digging a swale. Once the landscape grows properly, swales and berms can add to the beauty of your yard.

Waterproofing the Walls

If you are considering interior drainage system, it may get the water out but would not waterproof the walls. For this, you need exterior waterproofing to protect the foundation. If you have a foundation with numerous gaps, it is the best solution for you. It’s a huge job and may require digging around the house, but it is worth it. It keeps the water and the mess outside, which can be a perfect choice if you don’t want to revamp or touch your finished basement.

1. Note: You may need to remove decks or walkways for doing the process.

Conclusion:

Hence, with these expert tips, you can prevent basement seepage.

Are you finding a local contractor to revamp your basement or to waterproof it, contact Dry Effect! Our expert team will get in touch with you to understand your requirements.