It doesn’t matter if your basement is a simple storage area or a top-of-the-line entertainment room. All basements are subject to the same problems because of their location is at or below ground level, and below the water table. No one wants to have water seeping into their home, causing mold and rot, warped wood, and expensive basement crack repair. Unfortunately, this can happen for a variety of different reasons, no matter the type of foundation you have or the condition of your home.
When you experience a flooded basement for the first time, it’s important to determine if the water problems are going to recur or if it was a one-time event. Determining where the water is coming from is the first and most essential step in solving this problem. Here are some of the top causes of water entering your home.
Surface Water Flooding
If this is the first instance of water problems in your basement, the first thing to check for is surface water draining down next to the foundations. If your basement has windows, check the seal around the window frame to be sure there are no cracks, holes or rotting sections of wood. If there are, consider replacing the entire frame. Patch all cracks in the basement walls with a sealant and check the floor for any other cracks that may be causing water seepage. If the foundation is severely cracked, consult an experienced contractor to repair the damage.
After checking the interior of your basement, it is essential to check the exterior of the home to look for overflowing gutters, downspout slope too close to the building, and pavements slope near the house.
Sewer Backup
When the sewers are full, it’s in a “surcharged condition”. The pipe system is full, and the water level in the manholes may rise well above the top of the pipe. If the sewage level in the system exceeds that of your basement, flows can be blocked, and sewage can flow towards your home. When this occurs, the wastewater may enter your basement by way of the lowest fixture, which is usually a floor drain, shower drain, sink, washbasin or toilet. The underlying cause of this is excess water in the sewer system, which ultimately overloads the sewer with more water than it was designed for
Ineffective Sump Pit
Many existing houses simply have no subsurface drainage system. This comes from a time when basements were not used as habitable space. The goal of a sump pump is to collect unwanted water and discharge it away from the home by lifting the water to the ground surface outside the foundation wall, but it can fail. Some common reasons are power failure, improper installation, collapsed pipe, lack of regular maintenance, and frozen or clogged discharge lines.
Mortar Joint Leak
For many rural homes in central Minnesota with basement walls constructed of cinder block or brick rather than concrete, locating a leak in the wall can be a bit more challenging because the walls themselves are not solid. Instead, they are built using mortar to hold each individual block in place. As with many things, the mortar will deteriorate over time. When the mortar deteriorates, it becomes less water-resistant, allowing water to slowly make its way through the mortar and into your basement through the open joints between the top of the block wall and the blocks themselves.
If you have exhausted all possible sources of water leakage and are still experiencing problems within your basement, then you may want to consider contacting a professional basement leak repair service immediately. We have many years of experience dealing with flooded basements and are here to help you in your time of need.