Basement Waterproofing: Expert Tips

Signs That Show You Need Waterproofing

• One of the most objective signs of a water infiltration can be the water stains, feel of moisture in the walls and the flaking paint.
• If you see mold growth in the basement or other parts of your home, this may indicate a leak or water infiltration, and the source may be the basement. You don’t always have to see the mold. Sometimes, you can sense the strong musty smell or if you are an allergic person, your allergy symptoms may alleviate suddenly.
• Obviously, if you are seeing cracks in the walls or the floor of the basement, these are great entry points for water.

Gutters and Downspouts

One of the first mechanism of defense of your home against the rainwater are your gutters and downspouts. Unfortunately, many homeowners ignore these but to make sure rainwater is diverted away from your house, you need to clean the gutter regularly. Before the rainy seasons, make sure to ispect these to ensure they’re not broken or clogged. As for downspout extensions, make sure they are placed at least 15 feet from the foundation.

Sump Pumps

Undoubtely, the most important mechanism that prevents basement flooding is the sump pump. These devices are usually found in the lowest part of the basement and during rainyweather, water that enters the basement is collected and pumped out by this device. If you don’t already have it, call professionals to get this installed.

Exterior Basement Waterproofing

When the water is seeping through the foundation walls, exterior basement waterproofing is a popular technique to avoid this problem. In this procedure, the soil around the foundation of the house is excavated, and the exterior walls are coated with a waterproof coating layer. It is an effective method even though it requires serious effort and you may prefer it if you want a long term solution to prevent basement leaks.

Interior Basement Waterproofing

This method also functions in a similar way, but this time waterproof sealents are used to cover the inside walls of the basement to stop water from leaking through. It’s a good method, but of course it can’t stop the water from entering the foundation if there are existing cracks on the external wall. So, this method gives the best results when they are used in combination with other techniques.

Dehumidifiers

If there’s moisture in your basement to some degree, one of the most important things you can do is to control the humid air inside the basement to avoid mold and mildew growth and health problems. By installing a basement dehumidifier, the air quality of the basement and overall your house can greatly improve.

Expert Assistance

In this article we tried to cover some of the methods you can try at home to protect your basement from dampness. If these are done properly and in a timely manner, we believe that you’ll be able to avoid this situation. However, at certain times, the underlying problem might be more serious and additional plumbing services in Morgantown might be necessary. Luckily, professional plumbers of Mr. Rooter Plumbing are here to make your home a healthier and safer place to live in and we offer many services to avoid water damage and leaks as well as repairing the already existing issues. Call us today to schedule your appointment.