End Basement Water Seepage
Is your home an older one? It is possible that damage is being done that you are unaware of, as water continues to seeps into your basement? Every homeowner should have knowledge of just what a serious hazard basement water seepage is. Knowing what causes water seepage can help you prevent it in the future. Leaky pipes and other open water sources can be the internal culprits of water seepage. Do some investigating - paying special attention near your appliances - to verify whether or not water seepage is coming from inside your home. Leaky or rusty pipes, odors in the basement, or water stains on your floor/walls/ceiling are indicators of seepage, and a waterproofing specialist should be called at the first sign of them. Big problems can surely be caused by leaky pipes, but natural rainfall is the greatest source of water seepage. This rainfall most commonly seeps into cracks in your home’s walls, but water can enter through other areas as well. Joints where the floor and walls meet is another common entry point for water. Upon noticing cracks in your basement, you should beat the next rainfall by contacting a waterproofing specialist to seal up the cracks. Another water seepage area to look out for is porous materials. Carpet, furniture, and surprisingly enough - concrete walls absorb water naturally. Moisture and humidity issues in your basement can be avoided by using concrete sealant. Any moisture trapped between an external wall and any indoor paneling next to it can cause mold and mildew to grow. If your home is older, you will want to be aware of its foundation. Over time, the soil will move and settle. Seasonal changes cause the soil to expand and contract, which is all the encouragement foundation walls need to start moving. If there is any hint that your basement wall might be bowing, you should contact a basement specialist and ask about bracing support systems. You could really lessen the threat of of water seepage by using supportive columns to hold your basement walls in place. Possibly more important than knowing how water seeps is knowing when it seeps into your basement. It’s no surprise that the most water seepage takes place during heavy rainfall. Installing a sump pump would be your best line of protection against heavy rainstorms. Sump pumps are designed to capture rainwater that has made its way in, and to shoot it back outside. Positioning the sump pump hose as far away from your home as possible is key to ensuring your sump pump will do its job as designed. Cleaning out your gutters, and making sure that rainfall hitting them flows away from the house is another helpful tip. You want your sump pump to do the least amount of work possible, so taking action to keep water away from your home’s foundation is important. Even the least amount of water seepage can be damaging, and it doesn’t matter where it comes from. Protect yourself by inspecting your basement for water seepage at least yearly, because prevention is a lot less costly than damage cleanup. Contact a water restoration specialist quickly if you discover your water damage is out of control.