If you experience frequent floods in your basement after it rains, you should look into the issue before the problem becomes worse.
What Causes My Basement To Flood Every Time It Rains?
Basement leaks occur because the ground surrounding your property has become filled with water. This leads to build up of pressure that pushes the water into your basement. This pressure is commonly referred to as hydrostatic pressure.
The first step in solving this issue is identifying the exact source of the leak.
Below, you will find some of the most common reasons why your basement leaks after downpours and storms, as well as the specific actions you need to take to fix such problems.
Symptoms of Basements Leaks after Rainfall
- Mold accumulation – Mold can start growing in your basement within just days of experiencing floods. You should check the floors and walls as well as around sinks and pipes for signs of mold.
- Standing water – Standing water is an obvious symptom of a basement leak. If you find standing water in your basement after it rains, it means that there is a problem that needs to be addressed beneath the ground.
- Wet carpet – A wet carpet after it rains usually means there is a problem underneath the surface that is causing water to come through the basement floor or between the wall and floor.
- Damp floor – Damp floors are a common symptom that property owners should be on the lookout for after a heavy downpour.
Where Does Water Come In Through?
Cove joint – Your cover joint is the point where your basement floor touches the wall. After it rains, water can seep through the cove joint via hydrostatic pressure. Water accumulates and rises beneath the basement, and because it has no other place to go, it finds its way into your basement through the cove joint. Your first instinct may be to seal this joint, but this might not fix the issue because the water may find its way to another part of your basement. The main reason for the rise in water is having a poor drainage system in your property.
Floor – If your floor has standing water or is leaking or damp after it rains, there could be various issues that are causing these problems. One issue could be that you have a poor foundation. When the foundation is not solid enough, movements can cause cracks in the floor, which allow water to seep through, especially after it rains. If your drainage system is clogged or backed up, this could also lead to water seeping through your basement floors. Rain will saturate the soil around your home, and when it has no place to go but into your home, that is where it will end up.
Walls – Water can permeate through the walls of your basement because the soil surrounding your house exerts hydrostatic pressure on the walls, and water ultimately find its way into your basement. The grading of the surface adjacent to your basement could also be the culprit if it slants towards your home rather than slanting outwards so that the water spreads away from the house. This can be due to a poor foundation which causes the walls to shift, and in turn, crack and let water into your basement.
Solutions to Fix Basement Leaks When It Rains
Repair or install a new drainage system – The best solution for a leaking basement is having a proper drainage system. A drain tile system, for instance, is a powerful and robust system that is designed to trap water before it enters your home. It relieves the hydrostatic pressure, and keeps the water out of your basement. The baseboard drainage system is another effective system that is ideal for smaller leaks, and it does not need any replacement or removal of your basement floor. Learn more.
Foundation repair – If a poor foundation is the perpetrator behind your basement leak problems, it may be wise to stabilize it before the situation become worse. Foundation failure is usually caused by poor gutter and landscaping systems, and the best fix is a stabilization system. Learn more.
Sump pump installation – Sump pumps gather water via a barrel and then extract the water so that it doesn’t get into your basement. If your sump pump is clogged, damaged, or not functioning properly, it may need to be reinstalled or replaced.
Install gutter downspouts – Nonexistent or poorly installed roof gutters can be the cause of basement leaking and flooding. Learn more.
Can It Get Worse If I Don’t Take Any Action?
The answer to this question is a simple – Yes. The problem can become worse if you don’t take appropriate action as soon as possible. Depending on the issue you are facing, cracks in your walls or floors can increase in size. Your foundation can also continue to deteriorate. The more it shifts, the higher the likelihood that water will seep into your basement, possibly via the cove joint.
Drainage systems will not repair themselves, and will typically deteriorate further as time passes. The water may leave your property after some time, but the flooding could occur after another heavy downpour.
Our Team
StayDry Waterproofing is a family-owned basement waterproofing company that has fixed just about every basement leaking problem you can think of. The team consists of highly-trained and experienced professionals who are committed to making your basement dry and safe again.
