How to Deal With Wet Basement
A wet basement can be a big bother for most homeowners. Nothing terrifies a homeowner like seeing water oozing through the basement floor or the walls. This means two things; the home is under danger of collapsing if the issue is not addressed immediately, and secondly, it means that there will be respiratory health issues. And as if that is not enough, a homeowner will have to spend more money on correcting the problem. Get the highest quality basement waterproofing to prevent this problem in your home.
But should you always wait until you start seeing these obvious signs of a wet basement? According to DrainCom, there are many signs that show you that you have a wet basement. So you should know such symptoms and what to do to make your basement dry. Here are the essential things you should do.
- Identify Where The Water Is Seeping From
Water in your basements usually comes in two main sources. The first source is the indoor humidity. In this case, the humidity condenses on the cold surfaces such as the window panes forming water droplets. The second source is water vapour that normally originates from the outside. Groundwater or melting snow can make the soil below your basement foundation saturated and end up leaking into the basement, leading to foundation repair. Similarly, water can get into your home via cracks and pores on the masonry walls. Waterproof coatings and other installations are not DIY jobs or ones to leave to a general contractor! For expert waterproofing solutions that last, turn to the experts available to some reliable websites like https://bloomingtonfoundationrepairservices.com/ which have a wide range of waterproofing services sure to fit your property and budget, and stand behind all expert work with an industry leading guarantee you can trust.
To identify where exactly the water is coming from, use an aluminium foil. Tape this foil on your basement and watch it for several days. If the moisture occurs on the outside surface of the foil that indicates that there is high humidity indoors. However, if it occurs behind the foil, it shows the moisture is coming from the walls or the floor. So how do you deal with this problem in both cases?
- Eliminate Excess Humidity
The key to reducing humidity lies in identifying where the humidity is coming from so that you can deal with the source and make your wet basement dry. For instance, if the dryer vents are leaky, you would want to seal them using a foil tape. This makes sure no more humid air enters into your basement.
However, the duct tape is not enough since, with time, it may fall off. You would also want to add vent fan in the bathroom at the basement and ensure that when you shower you turn it off. If the issue of condensation persists, you would want to use a dehumidifier.
2. Insulate Pipes
Your leaky basement Toronto is not going to stop by just doing one thing. You should also identify other probable sources of condensation such as dripping pipes. This might appear insignificant, but it might be contributing a lot to your wet basement. So, you would want to cover all the pipes with form insulation to curb condensation. This will not cost you much money since foam pipes cost less money. When heavy rains trigger a flood of water into your basement, you can quickly have 15 inches of flood water covering the floor and damaging almost everything inside, which can be especially devastating if you store valuable items in the basement. With a working sump pump, this disaster can be averted easily. Make sure that yours is functional to avoid this from happening. Contact experts like Steve’s Plumbing, LLC / Sump Pumps Services to get an inspection. There are many sump pump options in the market but check out everbilt sump pump reviews for the best ones on the market.
3. Waterproof Basement Walls
Leaks in exterior walls are also major causes of wet basements. To make your basement dry, you should consider waterproofing your basement walls. These are usually the main cause of leaky basements in cold climates. The experts from cincinnatifoundationrepairandwaterproofing.com will waterproof your basement and repair any damages done by the water. Doing so will not only make your basement dry, but it will also save you money spent on energy utility bills.
However, if you find out that water is coming from the outside, don’t insulate the walls as doing this will only make the problem worse. Doing so will provide the right conditions for mould growth which is without a doubt detrimental to your health.
4. Plug Cracks And Holes In The Foundation
Cracks and holes are normally some of the main causes of a wet basement and hiring foundation repair Dayton experts is the only way to fix it. They allow water to seep into the basement floor, especially due to hydrostatic pressure that pushes water through any space available. Plugging the holes and cracks will only offer a temporary solution, but it is helpful as you look for a permanent solution to waterproof your leaky basement Toronto foundation. You can hire an expert to do your exterior waterproofing.
To plug the cracks and holes, you would need to use hydraulic cement. This is recommended since it can be used even under the water. When it expands, it seals the cracks, locking the plug in place. To perform this perfectly, you will need a masonry-cutting disc to cut the holes before applying the hydraulic cement.