Is Your Basement Leaking? Here's What To Look For
Have you ever noticed water on your basement floor? If so, you may have some kind of leak. Leaks in the basement are caused by anything, and you probably want to get to the bottom of the problem quickly. Often the problems are with waterproofing, and the following information about basement waterproofing will help you deal with these issues:
Assess Your Waterproofing
There are a lot of issues that can cause water damage to your basement. One of the most common reasons is that waterproofing is not as good as it should be. In order to find out if your basement is leaking, you need to assess your waterproofing. Some of the things you should look for are:
- Cracks in the foundation walls
- Leaks in pipes, joints, and drains
- Gaps around windows and doors
You can also check for leaks by placing bowls under areas that may be prone to water damage. This will help you determine whether or not your basement is leaking. These bowls should be filled with water at all times and checked regularly (at least once every week). If you notice any water missing from the bowl, it could mean that there is a leak in that area. If you do find evidence of leaks or other damage, contact a professional for repairs immediately. Even small problems left alone can grow into much larger ones over time.
Keep an Eye on the Perimeter of Your House
Keeping an eye on the perimeter of your home can help tell you if there is an issue with the foundation waterproofing. If you're not sure what to look for, it's important to determine exactly what constitutes a leak when it comes to your home or business.
If rainwater is pooling around the foundation of your home or business and appears to be coming from underneath the surface, this could be an indication that water is entering somewhere between the ground and your foundation.
Dealing with Foundation Cracks and Deterioration
The first step to dealing with foundation cracks and deterioration is to identify the problem. Here are some tell-tale signs that your foundation is in trouble:
- Cracks along with window and door trim—Cracks at the top of a wall that runs parallel with the window or door frame or along the bottom edges of doors or windows could mean that there is settlement occurring.
- Tilting chimney or fireplace—A tilting chimney is another sign of settling in a building's foundation. This may be caused by an improper installation when the chimney was put up or a shifting foundation that has pulled away from the house.
- Cracks in basement walls or floors—These can also be caused by settlement, as well as the water pressure from groundwater seeping into the crack and enlarging it over time.
- Sagging ceilings and doors that stick—Sagging ceilings and stacking doors can be signs of floor settlement. This often happens over the course of many years, but it can eventually become such a problem that you may need to remove carpeting and re-level floorboards to fix it.
These issues are all signs that there are structural problems that could also be causing foundation waterproofing to fail.
Fixing basement leaks isn't easy, which is why you might want to contact a basement waterproofing service to get the professional help you need. For more information, contact a local company, like J.A. Kilby Enterprises Inc.