Archives for October 2018

A Damp or Wet Basement

If your basement has been soaked after fire or flood, you have to immediately get rid of the excess water and endeavor to dry it off as soon as possible.  Premises that are left soaked or damp over an extended period of time will encourage mold and mildew growth aside from making it an excellent breeding ground for other microorganisms, insects and pests.  You should find out where the source of water is coming from and fix it. Following are some of the usual causes of damp basement and how to deal with them:

Excess Water in the Basement Because of Overflow

Water from melting snow and rain can wear out the foundation of your home and cause cracks to develop on your basement where water can seep through.  Water can also trickle through the porous material of basement walls.  You will know that this is where the water comes from when after a storm or strong rain the basement walls become wet or damp.  This problem can also be brought about if the ground is inclined towards the house and pools of water are left in pockets which eventually find its way to your basement. If you are sure that this is the source of dampness or wetness in your basement, you can readily resolve this by covering the cracks in the foundation and basement walls.  You can also lengthen the downspout so the water can be directed to the streets away from your house. Gutters should also be kept clean so the water can flow freely and not clog and overflow.

Excess Water In the Basement Caused By Groundwater

During heavy rains and the water outside your house rises higher than the basement, water could be expected to seep through the cracks in your basement if there are any.  Pools of water that build up underground can also find their way into the same cracks and holes and cause flooding inside the basement.  Old houses without a sump pump normally suffer this damage. You can resolve this problem by installing a drainage which is directed away from your basement.  Set up a gutter at the foundation of the outside walls or if within the house’s premises underneath the floor pieces.

Condensation Can Also Cause Wet Basement

When warm, moist air touches cold water pipes and the basement walls which lead to a generally damp basement, condensation can occur.  During the condensation process, water droplets can be plenty enough to form a pool of water and puddles in the basement.  You can find out if condensation is the culprit in this case by taping an aluminum foil on the wet areas and inspect it after one day.  If the foil is damp as well, then condensation is indeed the contributor of dampness in your basement. You can resolve this problem by improving the ventilation inside the basement and leaving all the windows open for the meantime.  Let the electric fans run inside the basement but insulate the water pipes with foam.  You can use a dehumidifier if available or increase the temperature during extremely cold weather.  Waterproof the walls to prevent moisture from outside to seep through the microscopic holes, These are the basic things you can do to address the dampness in your basement. However, if all these do not work, you might have to already employ the services of a professional water damage restoration service that could exactly pinpoint the source of wetness and do the necessary to eradicate the wetness in your basement.