That musty feeling in your basement could be more serious than you think. Even if you have a dehumidifier or two running at all times, the moisture may be coming from a crack in your foundation, or your basement floor.
If your basement leaks when it rains, you may need to consider waterproofing interior basement walls, as well as exterior ones. The sealants that are used to waterproof the walls will reduce the chances of any water seeping in. You could also call a basement leaks repair company to take care of the fissures in your wall.
But in the mean time, here are some things you can do to avoid costly repairs.
- Moving Plants. You may not realize it, but your beautiful flowers or shrubs could cause problems for your foundation. If your plants are too close to the foundation of your house, the moisture that they soak up could be reaching deep into the soil, and make their way into any of the natural cracks that appear on a home’s foundation. By moving your plants at least a foot away from your foundation, you could be doing your basement a favor.
- French Drain System. In the event that water does enter your home, you could have a French drain system installed in the basement to help pump any water out. This can work in conjunction with a basement sump pump to protect your basement. A French drain is essentially a trench that is dug around the perimeter of a basement, and it is filled with gravel and a drain pipe.
- Land Slope.When a home is constructed, most builders know that the land around the home should slope away from the foundation. If not, any rain water will head straight for the foundation, and over time, this could cause drainage problems, as well as water damage. If you find that the land around your house is sloping inward, you will want to talk to your builder about it, and get it fixed.
With the help of a basement leaks repair company, and these tips, you will likely be able to prevent any major water damage. More like this article.
