Higher amounts of heavy rain always mean higher amounts of wet basements! Homeowners often find themselves either preparing their homes to prevent water damage or thinking about the insurance they will need in case those measures don’t work. Most basically, looking into why basements leak water in the first place is a good place to start. Continue reading below to learn more about the causes of this distressing problem for homes all across Middle Tennessee.
While these summer months aren’t bringing about much snow (more like a searing heat wave!), melting snow and heavy rainstorms are the #1 source of rising groundwater in residential areas. For example, you can calculate that your soil will fill with about 1,000 gallons of water for every inch of rainwater over 1,500 sq. ft. of your yard!
Listed below are some of the most common reasons that all of this water is entering your home’s foundation instead of just staying put in the soil:
- Clogged gutter systems and downspouts will prevent water from flowing through the pipes and away from your foundation. Organic materials like leaves and branches can easily run into the system and create blockages.
- “Reverse grading” is a common occurrence for new construction jobs. This happens when the fill dirt around a location settles in such a way that it begins to direct rainwater into the foundation instead of away from it.
- Hydrostatic pressure can be a big proponent of basements leaking water. This is especially common for foundations surrounded by clay-rich soil that absorbs lots of water and accumulates it right up against foundation walls.
- Cracks in your foundation can be caused by the natural process of your home’s structure settling into the foundation. These stress cracks can begin to leak water over time and will only continue to get worse.
- When the plastic barrier from new construction is left to act as a vapor barrier for your home’s foundation, it will always create disappointment. The lime found in concrete works to disintegrate the plastic over time, leaving your foundation completely exposed.
How you can help identify if your basement is suffering from intruding moisture is to perform a DIY evaluation at home, looking for the some of the following signs:
- Patches of darker colored and cooler feeling concrete
- Lateral cracks or bowing in foundation walls
- Damp or musty smells accumulating in the basement
- Standing water in your crawl space
- A swamped yard surrounding your foundation
These signs are only a select few of a broader range of symptoms caused by intruding moisture. If you notice these signs in your basement leaking water, give your local professional waterproofing company a call, like us here at BARRIER Waterproofing Systems, today! (615) 257-1060 | (931) 536-1168
We offer a FREE yet professional evaluation of your foundation to determine if and where water may be entering in. Next, we determine the best waterproofing system to address the issue for your home. When professionally installed, our high quality vapor barrier and drainage materials continue to protect your home from intruding moisture for generations! For more information, visit our website full of waterproofing, foundation repair, and encapsulation services to choose from for making your home a better place.