What To Do With A Wet Basement

Solving a wet basement requires first knowing what caused the problem. Not knowing why will only mean that any steps or repairs taken will just become temporary measures. For sure, the problem will repeat in due time. For houses that are well built, most wet basement problems could be solved using the do it yourself knowledge you have acquired through the years. Some problems will be so big that you might as well hire a pro. No matter how big or small the problem is, knowing the cause is important. You might need it when it comes to negotiating the cost estimates coming from a contractor.

When the basement area is part of your family’s living space then fixing the problem becomes especially urgent. Rot and mildew spreads rapidly in damp conditions. Electrical appliances malfunction or worse could become hazardous. Most importantly, a wet living space makes people sick.

A damp smell in the area is a sign of wetness somewhere. This happens most often during summer when the air is warm and humid. When the air contacts the cold floor all that humidity condenses out leaving a wet trail. If you decide that you can stand the warm air, then a dehumidifier can do the trick. But if you find out that your family is already too uncomfortable, an air conditioner lowers humidity and increases comfort level.

Warm humid air also causes another type of problem that result in water condensing on surfaces of cold metal surfaces such as pipes. One way of stopping this problem is to wrap the pipe with insulating foam. However when water readily condenses in the living space, it means that humidity is already high making the area uncomfortable. You can install air conditioning to make this area more comfortable.

Damp walls and floors are also caused by humid air. Although it may seem that the area affected is big, it is still relatively easy to fix this problem. Just remove all that moisture in the air and problem solved! This can be attained by installing a dehumidifier or an air conditioner.

The next problems that will be discussed are relatively bigger in scope. One example is seeping water coming from the floor and walls. This problem could become more pronounced after a heavy downpour. One cause could be water draining through the soil and is finding its way to the wall. If this is the case then a solution could be to redirect the drain away from the house. A gradient that slopes down towards the area could also cause seepage problems. Have the slope flattened out to direct draining water away from the house. If this problem cannot be remedied then you might need to consult with a pro.

If the amount of water seeping is very significant even when there is no rain, then there must a broken pipe somewhere. If it only happens during rainfall, cracks caused by uneven settling of the foundation may cause water to leak into the room. Both cases already require professional intervention in order to solve the problem.

Wet basement waterproofing have a range of solutions depending on the causes. Some are repairs that you can do yourself and can be done cheaply. Knowing the cause of the problem is important even if you know that the job is too big for you. You can use this knowledge in negotiating the amount estimated by a pro for doing the repair job.

Waterproofing Solutions offer a vast array of services to help improve the condition of your home. For basement systems as well as other wet basement repair solutions, check them out today.