Fix That Wet Basement - External Water Problems

This is the third and final post in our current series full of solutions to help you fix a wet basement. Don't miss the first post here and the second post here!!

Welcome back as we talk about fixing our soggy basements. Today we get to tackle the best way to defend your house from water that has an outside source.  Keep in mind three key areas it could be coming from:

1. Runoff around your house is being improperly directed
2. Soil that is high in moisture is surrounding your basement
3. Groundwater is seeping in from under your basement.

Runoff Water

Pay special attention to this section if your basement tends to flood during heavy rain! You might not have ever noticed, but the directional slope of your property is key to the way water will behave around your house. This can even change over time, as soil settles and creates an uneven barrier around your house that provides ample opportunity for water to pool and eventually leak in. Another source of water runoff that is not correctly directed is when rain gutters along the roof get too filled with leaves and other debris and the water overflows the gutter. Instead of sloshing into downspouts and harmlessly away, the water over saturates soil near the foundation and will starting to enter your basement!

• Look up! Check gutters and downspouts
• Look out! Check landscaping & slope of your property.  Home Repair.about.com suggests that at about 24 inches away from the house, the ground should fall or slope away by at least 8 inches.

These are some good points to check as preventative maintenance as well, not to mention it will help bolster your other efforts to keep water out. For example, as we move to the second source of water, high moisture content in the ground, think about this. Any runoff that you can help redirect won’t be soaked into the already saturated ground, and there will be less to seep into your basement. It all works together!

Water Coming Through the Walls

(Property of Home Depot.com)

High moisture ground surrounding your basement will eventually start to leach water through your walls. A popular recommendation in this case is to use a waterproofing coating to prevent the water from getting through.  It goes on a lot like paint and there are several different options. This is one highly rated brand from Home Depot that runs about $30/gallon, but be sure to look at manufacturers specifications to make sure you find the right fit!

Groundwater Problems

(Property of HGTV.com)

And finally, the basement with a perpetual pond in one corner, or a stream of ground water seeping up through the floor may need a bigger solution: the sump pump. This is usually not a DIY project to install, as it requires a jackhammer to dig a pit into the floor to collect water, which will activate the pump when it reaches a certain level. I suggest using a contractor rating website to do some research, and ask friends who have had one put in. Just don’t be intimidated; think about how worth it having a dry floor will be, and how much money in damage you will save when the water is being expertly pumped out!!

And that concludes our soggy journey through wet basements. Hopefully you are well on the way to being high and dry at this point. We’d love to hear your “water under the bridge” story about how your basement went from unintentional water feature to useful part of the house, leave a comment!

Fix that Wet Basement - Humidity Problems

This is the second post in our current series full of solutions to help you fix a wet basement. Don't miss the first post here!!

I’m giving you a virtual high five for taking that first step toward drying out your basement. Now that you know what you’re facing you can build a plan of attack. We’ll go over options for condensation based wet basement issues today and next time look at outside water sources. 

Okay, so there was condensation showing up on the outside of your foil. This means there is too much warm, humid air colliding with the cool walls, appliances, and other surfaces in your basement. Picture that tall glass of sweet tea you might enjoy outside on a hot day. As your glass sits in that scorching hot, sticky Southern summer air it begins to sweat. Beads of moisture drip down and when you grab it, your hand gets all wet. Bingo! Except that it’s not refreshing when your washer and dryer and expensive pipes that are damp and possibly starting to rust. This needs to be prevented!

Check the Small Things First

When you go down to the basement, and that damp air hits you, you might be tempted to go open any windows or doors and try to dry the place out! Hold on just a second though. If the air outside is warm and moist, opening the windows might actually be counterproductive. Keep those windows closed unless it’s a low humidity day, and run the A/C if the basement has one.  Also, make sure your dryer is venting properly to the outside and that the vent is clear. This will ensure that the warm air from the dryer isn’t spilling out into your basement. Finally, avoid hanging clothes to air dry, as all that moisture goes straight into the air and makes the problem worse.

Time to Dehumidify!

The next thing to consider is purchasing a dehumidifier for your basement. Nothing fancy or intimidating, these portable appliances are easy to buy with a stop at your local home improvement store and will set you back from $180+. I’m not endorsing this particular model, but a quick search on Home Depot’s website shows a 50 pint model with high customer ratings goes for about $220.

A good reference point to determine the capacity you should look for is this chart from the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, and they also offer a list of recommended units. As you can see, a 50 pint machine should take care of just about any home basement need. Be sure to follow all the directions included with whichever model you buy, for most efficient and safe results!

Stay Tuned

Although these suggestions are specifically targeted to resolve humid basement problems, that doesn’t mean you won’t see improvements from suggestions on the next post. Some of the landscaping tips we’ll cover may be very helpful if you live in a place with high moisture content in the ground surrounding your basement. .

Do you have any experience with dehumidifiers to share with us? Leave a comment if you have a suggestion & we'll be back Monday!