It is of critical importance that you deal with leaks as soon as you see the signs to avoid causing greater damage and spending a lot of money on repairs! Unfortunately, these leaks often happen behind walls that have been closed up by drywall or other construction materials. This means that leaks may be occurring in your home but you may not actually see any warning signs until it has turned into a bigger problem.
When these issues escalate, you may be met with a damp carpet in your basement one morning, or even find water bugs crawling along the baseboards of your basement floor –unpleasant surprises.
But there is hope! There are some telltale signs of a basement leak that you can watch for to ensure you stay on top of any potential issues before they turn into bigger, more expensive problems.
The walls in your basement often act as an “early detection system” for any leaks that have sprung up behind the walls, and you’re going to want to pay close attention to their overall condition to spot leaks in their early stages.
Look for any portions of your walls that are bowed or discolored, or spaces on the wall that are damp or “soft” to the touch – this signals that the drywall may be wet, and perhaps even waterlogged from a leak.
Often times, builders will apply a moisture barrier before installing drywall to ensure that your walls are not affected by any moisture than could make its way into the home. This is great in terms of preserving the aesthetic, but makes it more difficult to spot early warning signs of leaks that could be occurring behind the walls.
Inevitably, gravity will pull any moisture and water through the home, and if your walls remain preserved due to moisture barriers, the odds are pretty good that the moisture will eventually become evident in your basement floors.
If you have wood flooring in your basement, look for any patches that appear to be swelling or buckling. Wood is particularly vulnerable to water damage, so these signs should appear fairly early after the occurrence of a leak. If your basement is tiled, look for tiles that are stained and/or discoloured, or any tiles that are coming loose or feeling soft as you walk over them. This is a sign that moisture has been building up underneath them, often due to a leak.
All basement leaks should be dealt with as soon as possible in order to avoid costly damage. If you have a nagging basement leak, book a consultation with City Residential Foundation Repair today!
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