And add downspout extensions if needed so gutters drain 4 feet away from the house onto splash blocks. Many homes have an existing underground drainage system. Unfortunately, the system often breaks apart or fills with silt after several decades. You can call in a drain-and-sewer-cleaning contractor who will use a long power snake to try to clear the lines. But often they just have to be capped off at the surface and abandoned. Instead, drain rainwater from gutters into a dry well: a hole lined or filled with gravel or a tank that allows runoff to soak into the ground slowly.
It can handle runoff from a square-foot section of roof. Install a dry well at least 10 feet from the house in a hole 3 feet deep. Then cover it with soil and put a plant on top to mark its location should the system back up. Planting grass alongside your house is another way to absorb excess water. But don't plant trees; their roots can damage the foundation and an underground drainage system.
If water is still gushing into your basement, call in a professional. Otherwise, consider an interior gutter. This dam-and-channel system goes around the perimeter of the basement floor and collects water that flows down or through the walls or floor, routing it to a floor drain or sump pump.
The Squid-Gee Dry system from Waterproof. Special epoxy holds the gutters to the floor. If your wet-basement symptoms act like runoff but occur all the time, you're probably dealing with high groundwater. Unless the foundation is surrounded by soil that has a high clay content, which can hold rainwater and snowmelt for months, runoff problems usually come and go as storm water drains away.
But if your basement is consistently wet long after a storm, or if water is coming up through the basement floor, flowing through your walls or bubbling up where the walls meet the floor, you probably have a subsurface water problem. Check with your city or town to see if the water table is unusually high in your area or if underground springs are common. You may want to call a pro for these problems. A contractor may also suggest combining a sump pump with perimeter drains made of 4-inch perforated PVC drainpipe laid in gravel inside foundation footings.
Exterior systems, which run at the base of footings, are even more complicated; they require removing the landscaping, excavating to expose the foundation, covering it with a waterproof membrane and laying perimeter footing drains in a bed of gravel.
Cookie banner We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. By choosing I Accept , you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. By John D. Pinterest Email Pocket Flipboard. Jessica Ashley Got Water in the Basement?
What Causes a Wet Basement? Condensation A dry well fed by a 4-in. PVC pipe running from downspouts can disperse the water gathered from the roof. Water seepage where the basement wall meets the floor is a common cause of water in the basement. Aside from a plumbing leak or local flooding, there are two major causes of water in the basement: surface water and subsurface groundwater.
If water is coming through the basement floor or coming in where the basement walls meet the floor, then the source of the water is likely subsurface groundwater. There are a few reasons for this. Hydrostatic pressure - Rising groundwater and saturation during wet weather causes hydrostatic pressure, which pushes against the foundation and pushes water through cracks and openings in the concrete. This pressure can also cause the basement floor and walls to crack.
If the water in your basement seems to be only near the exterior foundation walls then the problem is likely surface water that isn't draining away properly.
There are several problems to look for around your house. Learn more about the causes of water in the basement after rain and ways you can solve this problem.
Symptom: Flooded basement with water covering all or most of the basement floor. Basement flooding during wet weather is a common problem. The additional water on the surface and underground from heavy rains and melting snow can put a heavy load on drainage systems. There are many reasons why the basement might flood. Whether you have a puddle or a basement filled with water, any water in the basement can cause expensive damage.
An effective basement waterproofing system can help prevent water damage. Clean your gutters and downspouts at least twice a year to prevent clogs. Also, check that your gutters are in good condition and held firmly in place.
Make sure that downspouts direct water away from your foundation and add extensions if necessary. If downspouts connect to a drainage system, such as a sump pump, check that system as well. If you have a sump pump, make sure the discharge pipe connects to the storm sewers and not the sanitary sewers. Otherwise, this can cause a sewage backup. Another way to keep water out of your basement is by checking the landscaping around your foundation. The soil around your home should always slope away from your foundation for at least three feet.
If the soil is level or slopes toward your home, add more dirt to make sure water flows away. Allow at least six inches of space between your foundation and your landscaping. Plant bushes at least two feet from your foundation, with trees at least three feet away. One of the best ways to stop basement leaks is by fixing cracks and gaps as soon as possible. Hydraulic cement is the best for patching cracks in your basement foundation or floor. You can apply it even if there is water in the crack.
For the best results, use a chisel or an angle grinder with a masonry blade to carve a v-shape into the crack. Then apply an even layer of hydraulic cement to the crack with a trowel. Make sure you press it firmly into the crack to create a good seal. If water is already leaking into your basement, you may need to have your drain tile fixed. A damaged drain tile is usually the issue if the water is from coming up through the basement floor.
Another way to stop basement leaks is by installing a drainage system. Although there are several options to keep water out of your basement, the most common is installing a sump pump. A curtain stain is another common option. Similar to your drain tile, a curtain drain is installed around your foundation at ground level and keeps surface water from leaking into your basement. Again, you need to dig up your foundation to make these repairs.
For this reason, you should hire a basement waterproofing contractor. Waterproofing the walls is another way to stop basement leaks. You can waterproof either the inside or the outside of your basement walls. You can paint the interior of your basement walls with a waterproofing product. If you are going to waterproof your basement yourself, you need to clean the walls first. Start by stripping any paint, then use a wire brush to remove loose material and other debris.
You should patch any cracks as well. When applying the waterproofing material, brush in all directions and work it into the foundation wall.
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