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Leaky Basement: Coping With The Horrors

I'm thinking of a place where it's dark, gloomy, wet, and musty, and it's not a haunted house. No, it's an old, leaky basement. You know what I'm talking about. It's the kind of environment where mold spores float through the air, mildew coats pipes and cardboard boxes, and you get a clammy chill every time you have to venture down there to do the laundry. A leaky basement often means there are gaps somewhere in the foundation that allow all manner of bugs inside, and cobwebs festoon isolated corners. Not exactly the space you want to have in your house, is it?

Never fear! There is help for a leaky basement. You can turn this dismal space into beautiful living areas your family will use every day. The first thing you need to do is find the leaks and dry the basement out. You'll most likely require professional help to do this, because many sources of water are difficult to locate, and unless you plug all the potential areas of seepage, your basement will never be dry enough for you to live in.

An expert will be able to get to the root of the problem for you and recommend possible solutions. Some common fixes include adding a sump pump, painting walls with waterproofing paint, and digging outside around your foundation in order to tile the space and waterproof the foundation. The type of work that needs to be done and the cost of carrying out the project will depend on the magnitude of the problem.

Leaky Basement: Sewer Systems?

Basements that are prone to water backup problems may need even more drastic steps to keep them dry. In many cities, sewer systems haven't kept pace with the times. Residential neighborhoods have expanded without sewers being enlarged which means that more run-off is being directed into the smaller sewers. The result means that when there is heavy or prolonged rains, the sewers can't handle all of the water, so it backs up into your basement through floor drains, toilets, and stand pipes. It may take the installation of a major pumping system to take care of a problem this large.

Leaky basements can be a nightmare for homeowners. At best, they encourage mold to grow which sends mold spores into the air of the entire house. At worst, they can undermine the entire structure of your home and stymie your ability to expand your living space. You don't have to live with problems caused by basement water damage, though. Call a basement professional who will have the expertise to know how to deal with whatever causes your basement to leak.