If you’re noticing dampness or leaks in your basement, it’s time to pay some serious attention to your home. A wet basement is not an insignificant problem. It could point to a variety of sources that may end up costing you big-time in the future. If water is getting into your basement and you’re unsure of how or where, here are a few common culprits that just might be your source of the problem.
A window well is the structure around a below-grade window. A window well allows the window to let in light, but it also plays a role in keeping soil and moisture away from your windows. But over time as debris accumulates and impedes proper drainage, those systems that are supposed to remove excess water can pool and leak through the windows. Window wells fail when they are installed incorrectly, the well is not deep enough or wide enough, or there is inadequate drainage.
If you notice cracks along your basement walls that appear to be leaking, this could point to a serious problem with your foundation. When this occurs it often signifies that there may be too much hydrostatic pressure with the foundation and structure of the house. If your foundation isn’t directing water away from your home, that constant moisture could be building up a reservoir of wet dirt, and increasing that pressure as a result. This is an issue that should be professionally assessed immediately.
If you have a sump pump, you how essential it is for keeping excess water away from your home. So if it ever fails, it can cause some pretty hefty water damage to your basement. Whether it’s improper installation, frozen or clogged discharge lines, or even lack of regular maintenance, ensuring that your pump is working properly is imperative to avoid leaks.
This type of leak can either be very subtle or very noticeable. This can be hard to detect as it sometimes occurs very slowly depending on the size of the leak. But these pipes can carry wastewater, which can cause some more potentially hazardous problems.
Your basement is clearly an essential component of the structure and safety of your home. Unfortunately, there are a variety of elements that can end up weakening your foundation, and causing potential damage to your basement. It’s a very vulnerable part of the home. These are just four examples of the many, many problems that can cause a wet basement.
That’s why waterproofing your basement is imperative. No matter what the culprit is for your moisture problem, having the fundamental structure of your home protected can remove that degree of vulnerability and instead provide a layer of defence that will ensure that your basement has the best chances are staving off any leaks and water damage in the future.
Contact City Residential Foundation Repair, your Ottawa home waterproofing specialists, to request an appointment.
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