Basement water damage can be one of the most destructive things. Having stagnant water in your basement can cause damage to your home and affect even the atmosphere in your basement! If you don’t want this to happen in your home, then here’s everything you need to know from the root cause and signs up to the ways on how to prevent and fix your water-damaged basement.

Common Causes of Basement Water

Flooding 

Basement flooding is one of the most prevalent reasons for having water stuck in your basement. In case of flooding after a storm or snowmelt, it is best to get your get it cleaned up and checked in a span of 48 hours to avoid further damage.

Leakage and overflows

Broken pipes, overflowing gutters, window wells, and downspouts can also cause basement water leaks. The position of your house is a big factor that leads to an overflowing gutter – your house might be in a downslope manner that causes water to flow inside. Another factor that can also contribute is the structure of your house.

Hydrostatic pressure

Common in concrete basement floors, hydrostatic pressure causes water underground to come out of the pores of concrete floors. Not only does hydrostatic pressure causes the water in your basement but also cracks that can weaken the foundation of your home.

Signs that you have a water-damaged basement

If you’re suspecting that you have water in your basement, here is a guide to help you assess your basement for any possible signs of water and help you prevent it. 

Excessive condensation

Do you see water droplets on your basement wall or floor? That is a sign of excessive condensation, which indicates the presence of water. When warm air gets in contact with water in your room, it creates precipitates that make them wet and can cause damage to the walls or furniture in the basement.

Presence of mold or mildew

Basement moisture allows the growth of fungi. These factors, combined with a suitable temperature, are ideal for fungi to thrive. Go and check your basement ceiling or walls for molds, mildew marks, or musty odors caused by fungi; if you spot them, then it’s highly likely that you have a water-damaged basement.

Presence of water stains

Apart from the presence of mold marks, it would help if you also looked for signs and marks of water all around your basement. This may seem obvious, but the water can be harder to find than you think. It can even be found in the foundation wall OUTSIDE your basement and still cause water damage, so you might want to look there too.

How to fix water damage in your basement? 

Now, the most exciting part of the article: basement water repair. Once you’ve located and confirmed the presence of water in your basement, it’s time to get them removed. Here are the ways to fix your wet basement.

Remove stagnant water

The first step is to clear out the water inside. There are several ways to do it depending on the amount of water present. Floor basement flooding in small amounts can be removed through the traditional way of scooping using a bucket. In contrast, larger amounts can be removed with dry/wet vacuum for faster removal. For minimal cases, removal can be done on your own. Still, for large amounts resulting from flooding or a drastic amount of leakage, it is advisable to seek help from basement water removal experts to ensure that everything is properly cleaned up. 

Drying out the areas

Following the removal of the visible liquid is drying. The drying step will ensure no moisture is left in any parts of the room. You could use a fan or dehumidifier to help with air circulation and evaporation. If you don’t have access to this equipment, you can always call a trusted basement cleaning service provider to help you achieve a dry basement and make sure nothing could cause basement moisture.

Getting rid of damaged items

Now, more often than not, water inside your home causes broken furniture or house structure. For sanitary and safety reasons, carefully choose what can be salvaged; otherwise, it is best to take out all water-damaged items inside your home.

Repairing cracks and openings

Now, if there’s water in the basement, then there must be an entryway somewhere inside your space. There’s a need to get them sealed. It is better to call an expert to find and assess these cracks and openings for you and get them repaired.

Get the right temperature

Now that you’ve dried your basement and repaired all the cracks and openings, the next thing to do is get the right temperature for your basement. Get the right temperature to limit the growth of basement mold. You can do this by fixing your ventilation or heat system.

Who to call when you have water in your basement? 

If the main cause of your basement leaks is due to plumbing problems like leaking pipes, you should call a plumber. For foundation leaks, it would be best to have a basement waterproofing contractor. However, if you would want to completely renovate your basement which includes fixing your leaky basement, then it would be best to contact a basement renovation contractor for them to handle these problems altogether.

How to prevent water problems in your basement

Here are some tips to protect your basement from water damages. Check if your plumbing valves are completely closed to avoid the possibility of leakages. Another thing to do is improve your basement drainage system, clean them regularly, and see that they’re in the right position and there is no overflow. If you have windows, you can also install windows and well covers to protect your basement from water leakage coming from that part. Best to connect with a basement waterproofing expert that will assess your basement’s capacity to prevent water entry.

How much does basement remediation cost?

Your basement remediation cost depends on the amount of work that has to be done; it can range from hundreds to thousands if needed to install equipment. But no matter how big or small the project, make sure that you address all problems that exist in your basement. Invest in the RIGHT repair and renovation of your home and make sure to partner with a reliable contractor. It will protect you and your family and save you from the hassle of recurring home repair.

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