Common Causes of a Leaking Basement

One thing no homeowner wants to have to deal with is a wet basement. Unfortunately, sometimes a basement leak is inevitable. What causes water in basement or crawl space areas? We’ll look at some common causes, as well as tips for basement repair.

• A leak in the plumbing is a relatively easy fix. When your basement is leaking, repairs can range from simple to cost prohibitive. On the simpler end of things is leaky plumbing. Check for water on the ceiling or walls under your bathroom or kitchen because that’s a common sign of a leak. Maybe you have a cracked pipe, or maybe a leaking shower, toilet, water heater, or washing machine. Whatever the cause, repairing your plumbing leak may fix your basement water problem.
• The problem inside your basement could be fixed with some outside adjustments. Are your gutters clogged or leaking? Do your downspouts carry water far enough away from your house? Is the grade around your foundation sloped correctly? Any of these problems can direct water toward your foundation, where it can make its way into your basement. Keep water away from your foundation and you may be able to avoid a costly basement leak repair.
• Your window wells could be letting in water. Properly installed and maintained, window wells are a boon. In fact, they can even be instrumental in diverting rainwater away from your foundation. If a window well doesn’t have a drain, though, or becomes clogged with leaves and debris, it could end up causing your basement to leak. Make sure your window wells have drains that are working correctly, clean out any debris, and consider installing window well covers to keep leaves, lawn clippings, and other materials from clogging them.
• Something may be cracked. Concrete floors often crack, letting water seep into the basement. Even a hairline crack in the foundation can let in moisture. And if you’ve got poured concrete walls, they can crack too. Repair any cracks immediately, sealing the surface to prevent seepage. Be careful to ascertain the cause of the cracks and address it, or you risk it happening again.
• The pressure may be too much for your basement to handle. Your basement is under different types of pressure. There’s hydrostatic pressure, from the water found underground, and then there’s lateral pressure from the dirt all around your foundation. Either of these types of pressure can exert undue force on the foundation, causing it to develop cracks. If this is happening to your house, it may be time to call in someone with plenty of experience to waterproof your basement.

At Storm Waterproofing, we’ve been solving and preventing basement problems for over 20 years. A family owned and operated waterproofing company founded by a third generation basement waterproofing expert, we provide exceptional basement waterproofing services in the Baltimore, MD area. If you’re looking for a company that will keep your home dry, healthy, and safe, using state-of-the-art waterproofing techniques, call or contact us today.