UPDATED 1/27/21
It is the spring season, which means that rain is coming. You get sandbags and seal up any holes to prevent your basement from flooding. These items give you a sense of relief on how to stop water seeping into basement. The last thing you want to deal with is paying tons of money to clean up a flooded basement. Even though you have gotten a few items, you experienced some water seeping into the basement, causing some wet damage to your basement walls or flooring. With these damages, there are some other things to look out for in repairs.
You can think about a basement waterproofing service, which is a long-term method in preventing flooding. You can hire professional basement services that specialize in how to waterproof concrete wall. Waterproofing can secure the foundation of your home and preventing you from long-term damages to your foundation. You can get estimates from several professional concrete waterproofing companies. See which company works for you in getting new construction basement waterproofing.
Before you seek professional waterproofing services, there are some steps you can do at home to prevent basement flooding during a heavy rain.
No one wants to go down to the basement and find their feet wet! If your basement leaks when it rains, here are some tips to keep the wrath of Poseidon out of your home.
- When water proofing basements, you should first closely examine the foundation of your home. Tiny cracks usually will not be a problem; however, if you see any that are wider than a quarter of an inch, they should be fixed with epoxy as soon as possible. Sealing foundation cracks is one of the most steps you can take to prevent basement water leaks.
- Make sure the soil around the foundation slopes properly – it should go down six inches for every 10 feet of foundation.
- Take care where you put your plants! Many people don’t realize the role that their yard plants may play in a wet basement. If they are planted too close to the foundation or too high in the soil, their roots can actually direct water into your basement. When water proofing basements, make sure that all plants are low in the soil and no less than two feet away from the foundation of the house.
- Make sure you have a working sump pump. Sump pumps are essential to water proofing basements. There are two types of sump pumps: submersible and pedestal. Pedestal sump pumps usually last longer (up to 30 years) and are less expensive, but the submersible sump pump is less conspicuous and doesn’t clog as much.
Of course, no matter the measures one takes in water proofing basements, foundation leaks and flooding are statistically inevitable – over 98% of basements are reported to have experienced some level of flooding. If it happens to you, don’t panic; just make sure to dry out your home as quickly as possible to prevent mold, preferably within the first 48 hours. Also, lay out any wet towels, sheets, etc. If those have not dried within 48 hours, throw them away, unless you want to sleep on moldy bedsheets.
If you don’t know how to fix something or are not fully certain what the origin of any water damage is, do not try to fix it yourself. Call in professionals who are experts at water proofing basements. It may seem expensive, but it will save you a headache in the long run.