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How to Protect Your Basement from Leaks
Basement leaks are one of the most frequently-occurring problems for homeowners — and unless swift action is taken, such leaks can lead to severe material damage and even pose a health risk. Mold can quickly take hold, and stagnant water can be a serious hazard.
Prevention is, of course, better than cure — so how do you protect your basement, so that you won’t have to deal with leaks in the first place?
Common Causes of Basement Leaks
Leaks in the basement can have a wide variety of different causes, including:
- Improper drainage systems that guide water toward your home’s foundation, rather than away from it.
- Clogged, broken, or corroded drainage systems can have the same effect.
- Burst pipes within the basement are another possible cause of leaks.
- Ground water, combined with poor soil, can lead to a situation where a leak occurs in your basement, as a result of hydrostatic pressure.
- A home that is sloped incorrectly is vulnerable to basement leaks.
- Leaky basement windows will allow water to pour into a basement.
How to Prevent Basement Leaks
You can protect your basement from leaks by taking proactive steps that take all the possible causes of leaks into account.
- Maintaining your gutters and downspouts is an essential step in the process of protecting your basement from leaks. If you are not able to do this yourself, it is best to hire professionals.
- If you are worried about hydrostatic pressure, consider applying a waterproof mixture to protect your basement. This will not be sufficient if cracks are already present in the walls.
- In winter, ensuring that any pipes present within your basement cannot freeze will help prevent basement leaks.
- Replacing old, leaky, basement windows will go a long way toward preventing leaks.
- People who are currently house-hunting have an excellent opportunity to prevent basement leaks — home inspectors should assess the drainage system, sloping, and soil quality of any home you are considering purchasing.
Is it already too late for prevention? Are you already dealing with leaks in your basement? Never underestimate the importance of immediate action. Call a reputable leak detection company now to diagnose the problem, so that you can take the steps needed to mitigate the situation. Remedying the cause of the leak right away will minimize the damage.