How To Fix Leaking Basement

Having a wet basement can pose many issues to your home. Not only does it feel and smell gross, but it can ruin floors and encourage mold to grow.

So how to fix the leaking basement? Some leaking basements are as easy to fix by simply cleaning out the gutters that carry the water away from the foundation of your home. However, it can also be more difficult to fix if the problem is coming from other areas. For example, water flowing from the surface towards the home, if you have a problem with water entering from underground, you would need a foundation repair. There are a few actions you can take to help fix your leaking basement.

1. Add Gutter Extensions

A simple first fix is if your downspouts are dumping water closer than 5 feet away from your foundation, you can add a plastic or metal gutter extension to help guide the water farther away from your home.
However, these gutter extensions are not the most effective long-term solution, as they can be easy to trip over or even potentially ran over by the lawnmower if forgotten to pick up. You may want to eventually pick a longer-term solution, such as a permanent underground drain pipe that is invisible and can direct more water farther away from your home.

2. Plug Gaps

If you catch water dribbling into the basement through cracks or gaps around plumbing pipes, you can have it plugged with hydraulic cement or polyurethane caulk.

When the water is coming through the holes from either surface runoff or wet soil, then plugging the crack or gap can work well. However, if the water is seeping through the floor or where the floor and walls meet, the problem is then groundwater, and unfortunately, the plugs will then not work properly.

3. Waterproof the Walls

After plugging all the gaps, another option is to waterproof your basement walls. This will help the interior of your basement from rain runoff, damage from flooding, plumbing leaks, excess humidity, and when pipes burst.

The first step is to peel the existing paint off. Seal/coat the interior of the walls with a suitable masonry waterproof product. When the paint dries, the sealant forms a watertight bond to stop water from seeping. This is how you can waterproof your basement walls from inside. To ensure the best results, contact our Charlotte basement waterproofing professionals.

4. Grading

In many instances, the land around your house is sloping towards the foundation and often the biggest proponent of why your basement is leaking and wet. This mainly happens from rain and other types of water runoff get into the foundation and leaks into the basement. Regrading your land to slope down and away from your house can help direct water away from the foundation.

Overall, how to fix a leaking basement is based on where the water is coming from and what kind of pipe, land, or crack issues your basement and foundation may have. If you are ultimately unsure, you can call the Fresh Air contractors to come out and help you identify the problem and give you the best course of action for your situation.