The basement is a notoriously cold and damp location in the house. This often makes it useful for little else than to act as a larger closet where old items collect dust. You may even begin to consider leaks there as something of a normality. However, this isn’t the right way to look at the basement. Allowing leaks to go unchecked can lead to further damage to your home’s structure and allow mold and other unwanted pests to proliferate. You should consequently learn about these common causes of leaks in the basement so that you can fix them effectively.
Clogged Gutters
What do the gutters on your home’s roof have to do with your basement leaks? A lot, actually. Gutters are designed to collect rainwater as it falls on the house and funnel it far away so that it doesn’t have a chance to cause any damage. Gutters that are clogged with detritus can’t move water any longer, so rain overflows out of them and travels down the sides of the house. There, it gathers around the home’s foundation and can begin to leak into the basement through cracks—or form new cracks as it sits there and deteriorates the material. You should clean out your gutters routinely to prevent such harm from happening.
Pressure on the Walls
In addition to water that falls directly down the sides of the house, water in the surrounding soil can also lead to leaking in the basement. You might not see it, but during times of heavier precipitation, the ground can absorb a substantial amount of water. This water then begins to exert a force on the walls of the basement called hydrostatic pressure, making the soil expand beyond its normal volume. Hydrostatic pressure causes the walls to cave in and crack over time, letting the water inside. The water in the ground must be redirected with a waterproofing system that pumps it away.
Faulty Window Wells
Window wells are necessary when you have windows around your basement, as they form a connecting space to the surface. Unfortunately, a window well can easily collect rainwater, which then begins to leak through the window. There are several causes of window well problems, but in general, leaking happens when the well doesn’t have a transparent cover to deflect water or when the drain at the bottom of the well isn’t working properly. An old window may also have gaps around its frame that make the problem worse. To address any of these common causes of basement leaks, you should have a basement waterproofing professional inspect the area to determine exactly what’s causing the leak and to work to resolve it.
Create a Custom Shower Oasis to Last a Lifetime
Bring your vision to life, discover your ultimate shower design aesthetic or create your own with American Standard’s experts. There is a lifetime warranty. Click here to see photos of Modern Farmhouse, Rustic, French Country, Contemporary, Minimalist, and Traditional styles. You can trust American Standards 150 years of bath and shower expertise. With just three easy steps, you can get a quote from the comfort of your home online. Continue Reading. . .
Read More Home Improvement Tips, Click here.
• Where to Insulate Your Home
• Things to Do Before Selling Your Home
• Tips For Your Home Theater
• Best Interior Renovations for Increasing Home Value
• Ways to Make Your Home Look Cleaner
How To Get Your Home Ready For Winter
• Creative Ways To Decorate Your Hallway
• Tips for Remodeling Your Garage
• Common Causes of Residential Flooding
• Different Types of Tiling For Your Home
• Save with Senior Home Modifications
• Household Problems You Should NEVER Fix Yourself
• 5 Big Home Maintenance Tasks You Should Do In the Spring
Ways To Add Personality to a Boring Room
What to Consider When Building Your New Home
Causes of Leaky Basements
Discover More In-Depth Articles about Gardening Tips and Advice:
Spring Landscaping Tips to Free Up Time in the Summer
2020 Symposium
What To Do About Brown Grass
Moisture Induced Diseases affecting Plants and Landscaping
Winter Gardening Tips from Purdue
• Protecting Your Garden from Cold Weather
• Top Gardening Tips for a Fruitful Season
• Visit Friendship Botanic Gardens in Michigan City
• Visit The Greenhouse in East Chicago with Working Aquaponics System
Susie Young Baxter, CEO, has published PanoramaNOW Magazine for 31 years. Her hobbies are Camping, Boating, Hiking, Nature, Gardening and Outdoor Activities. She is an Artist, Graphic Designer, an Avid Seamstress, Dabbles in Homemade Crafts and Landscaping. Since her Father was a Health Teacher, she also likes homeopathic Health Solutions. Since blogging started over 10 years ago, PanoramaNow has been added to Newsbreak – a national news affiliate.
