A damp or wet basement can be a thorn in the side of any homeowner.
It can cause mold growth in the basement and throughout the home, damage to personal items stored there, affect heating and cooling, and even cause health problems due to mold spores being circulated through the HVAC system and then inhaled.
So what should be done about basement water problems? These are a few wet basement repairs you can discuss with a basement and foundation specialist to correct the different issues that cause wet and damp basements.
1. Add Waterproofing
Waterproofing the basement with a paint-on interior waterproofing coating is one easy option for correcting minor damp basement issues.
These coatings seal the block or cement, preventing slow seepage from entering through unseen openings, resulting in a drier basement.
2. Prevent Condensation
A moist basement with humid air is likely to experience condensation, which can result in mold, mildew, and other problems.
Prevent condensation by reducing moisture levels in the basement: open windows, turn on the furnace in the winter to dry the space out, or put in a dehumidifier.
Better insulation, especially around piping, and sealing better around openings to the outside can also help.
3. Prevent Seepage Due To Cracks and Runoff
Water runoff for various reasons can cause wet basement problems.
Correct any water runoff problems like clogged gutters and water channeling or pooling close to the house.
Then, find the places where water is seeping into the basement and patch and seal those cracks and crevices.
4. Add Sump Pumps and Drainage
If wetness problems are due to subsurface issues like hydrostatic pressure occurring in soils high in clay content, the options for wet basement repair could be as simple as adding a sump pump to as complex as adding drains, or even making outside repairs that require digging to access the outside of the foundation.
When simple solutions like reducing condensation and painting on a waterproofing coating don’t help enough, homeowners should turn to a professional basement and foundation company to help.
Experienced foundation technicians will diagnose the source of the wet basement, then offer available solutions to correct it.
Regardless of what is causing the basement wetness problem and what the options are to repair it, drying out and sealing a wet basement is an important home maintenance task that should not be ignored.
A dry basement is a comfortable, healthy, and structurally sound basement!