Wet Basement Cures

If a wet basement has always been a problem in your home there are a few wet-basement cures you can try before calling a professional. Wet basements should be a serious concern to homeowners due to the potential growth of mold. A wet basement can eventually lead to structural problems to the home causing you further costly repairs.

Gutters and downspouts

Clogged gutters and downspouts can lead to a wet basement

Gutters are important in keeping large amounts of water from oversaturating areas of ground. Downspouts should extend 10 feet from the house. While extending downspouts 10 feet may not be the look the homeowner is looking to achieve, they can be hidden with various flowers, rocks, or landscaping ideas. During a heavy rain it’s important to inspect gutters to make sure there is no overflow of water in any areas. If there is an overflow this is an indication that the gutters may be clogged with debris and need cleaning. This overflow of water can lead to over saturating the ground in one area and eventually finding its way to the basement.

Cracks and holes

Cracks need to be repaired to prevent water from entering.

Cracks and holes to the interior or exterior of a basement need to be fixed. Over time, concrete blocks will crack or the cement holding them together eventually wears away. This cement can be replaced with hydraulic cement. Hydraulic cement comes in powder form and will need to be mixed with water to a paste consistency and applied to any cracks or holes.

Wet basement walls

Wet basement walls can be as troublesome as flooding. A simple way to keep water from seeping into the basement is to paint the walls with sealant. A professional-grade brush-on sealant can be purchased at any hardware store. If you are not sure if the problem is coming from wet basement walls you can look for a white powder that is left behind on the walls and floor.

Drying out the air

If a basement has a musty smell to the air, you will want to pull the moisture out of the air by using a dehumidifier. A dehumidifier will help prevent mold from building up in the basement. If the idea of emptying the collection bucket daily is not appealing, you can connect a hose to most dehumidifiers to drain into a drain trap.

Drains

Drains can be installed on the inside flooring of the basement or along the exterior of the home. These drainage systems work by allowing the water to be properly drained away from the house. If interior drains are installed the water will be directed to a sump pump where the water will be drained into a gravel bed.

References

• Orillia Home Inspector: How to Cure a Wet Basement
• State Farm: Wet Basement Fixes
• CNN Money: Wet Basement? 6 Simple Fixes

Resources

• Radon Seal: Wet Basement