Is Your Basement Damp?

Has a rainstorm at night ever kept you up worrying about a wet basement? No one wants a wet or damp basement. It can be assigned a future flooding issues. Homeowners who expect to finish off their basement eventually, worry the most. The best way to fend off water in your lower level his knowledge. Homeowners should know the causes of dampness in the basement and the possible solutions.

Is the Moisture in my basement just from the air?
It can be hard to tell the difference between moisture in the air and moisture seeping in through the walls. There is an easy solution to this problem. All you need are squares of aluminum foil and waterproof tape. Simply tape the aluminum foil to the floor and to the walls of your basement. After about three days, check to see where water beads have accumulated. If there is water on top of the foil, the moisture is being caused from the air. This problem is simple to solve. Simply install a dehumidifier. However, if there is water condensation between the foil and the cement, there is ground water seeping into your basement.

Are New Basements Wetter Than others?
Brand new basements can be damp for years. Usually this makes new homeowners extremely nervous. However, it can take up to two years for a brand new basement to completely dry. This does not mean you have water seeping into your house.

What is the Most Common Cause of Basement flooding?
The most common reason for basement water is poor ground drainage. All around your house, the ground should slope away from the foundation. The grade should be at least 1 inch every foot. Ground drainage can be a problem, especially for older homes. When the house settles, the ground around the foundation sometimes becomes lower than it should. This is such an easy problem to fix. Simply build up the ground with soil and dirt around your house.

Are there Any other Causes of Basement Moisture?
Another common cause of basement moisture is clogged gutters. When working correctly, gutters deposit water directly above in-ground tile. The tile takes water away from the house and foundation. If your gutters are clogged, water is not being disbursed in the correct location. This can cause pooling around your house and seeping into the basement cracks.

There is nothing worse than water in a basement. However, if you know the causes of a damp basement, you will be more educated on how to prevent them. Don't wait until it's too late to fix a damp basement.