How to Stop a Basement Water Leak

Water leaks can cause serious damage to your home.

Water is highly destructive to your home, causing everything from structural damage to mold. Once it starts getting in, water problems will usually just keep getting worse and worse, unless you take steps to stop the leak. Basements are a common place for leaks because they sit below ground level. To stop the leaks, you need to find the source and stop the water from getting in before it has a chance to damage your home.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Wire brush
• Hydraulic cement, quick drying
• Bucket
• Putty knife

1. Check areas on the outside of your basement that could be allowing water to accumulate and leak into the basement. Eliminate any low spots next to the house by filling them in and packing the soil so that the ground slopes away from your house rather than toward it.

2. Clean your gutters and rainspouts so that excess water is directed away from your house. Spouts should direct rain out into areas lower than the house so the rain no longer builds up next to the foundation.

3. Identify the spot that is leaking. You may need to observe the basement during a rainstorm or use a hose to show you just where the leak is.

4. Dig down on the outside of the basement to the spot that is leaking, if at all possible. It is best to prevent the water from seeping into the walls, and fixing it from the outside keeps it from getting in at all. If you can't get to the outside, you can perform the repair from the inside.

5. Remove all dirt, paint and old caulking from the area of the leak. Use a stiff wire brush to scrub the basement wall so that the patch material can adhere.

6. Mix the quick-drying patch material according to the package directions. Be ready to apply it immediately, since it sets up in just a few minutes. Don't mix more than you can use quickly. You can always make a second batch it you need more.

7. Apply the cement to the crack or hole with a putty knife. Use some pressure to force the cement into the hole to help seal it. Also spread it around the leaking area so that it completely covers the leaking area. Smooth the surface before the cement dries.

8. Fill in the hole you dug to reach the leak. Pack it down to minimize settling. Check it after a week to make sure it hasn't settled too much and created a low spot. If it has, add fill to correct the slope.

Tips & Warnings

• Hydraulic cement can be applied even when the area is leaking, so if water is coming into your basement, patch it from the inside, and deal with the outside of the basement wall when the weather is dry.

• If the basement has mold in it, take precautions to avoid inhaling the spores while you are working. Some types of mold can cause illness or death. Have a mold specialist inspect the basement and remove the mold if there is any chance it could be dangerous.

References

• Market Watch; Stop Water Leaks Before They Really Cost You; Amy Hoaks; November 2010
• Popular Mechanics; Homeowner's Clinic Q&A; Norman Becker; March 2006