Desc: How to fix water problem in basement: A top Guide & Maintenance.
Plumbing leaks, seepage, or drain problems can have catastrophic consequences for the entire home. To avoid getting messier, you need to know how to fix water problem in basement.
Despite the less priority, the room down there should receive special attention. If you take a significant treatment, this problem can deteriorate until you realize it is too late.
There are many possible causes, such as heavy rain, basement waterproofing issue, and more. If you experience this often, try reading this review to the end.
A. Why Do We Should Care About Basement
Basement is commonplace in Europe, America, and then spread to other parts of the world. People use it as a warehouse to store their rarely used items.
Indeed, some use it as a workspace, children’s playroom, guest room, or a place to spend free time. But that is only a small part because more people use it as a secondary part of the house.
Because it is not a priority, this area often gets less attention. This closed room has fatal risks, such as damp and potentially damaging mold.
Before building, we must increase knowledge about exterior, interior design, maintenance, and handling when problems occur, including how to fix water problem in basement.
B. How to Tell if a Basement Has Water Problems
Humidity is a problem in the basement due to a lack of ventilation. It can lead to a bigger problem, namely the growth of mold and mildew that causes rotting wood and damaged goods.
Worse, according to experts, the room being too humid can trigger health problems, such as asthma attacks and lung disorders.
Therefore, you have to be careful if you are there for a long time.
However, that would not have happened if we could have known there was a problem from the world. The following are signs you should know if your basement has a moisture problem.
1. The air feels moist and smells musty
It is hard how to tell where water is coming into basement. However, we have some remarkable signs to observe.
As soon as entering the basement, you immediately feel the musty smell of a damp room. This stuffy atmosphere also indicates the growth of mold in it.
2. The wall paint is peeling off
Peeling paint on the walls is a well-known sign to spot in a room with a moisture problem. Excess moisture causes the concrete to lose its adhesion.
It could be an indication of water leaking in basement or mold growth. The faster you act, the more you will save a lot of things.
3. Impressed dirty and rarely touched
Not cleaning the basement can trigger moisture problems. The room does not have ventilation that can neutralize the air that it has the potential to spread to many other damages.
4. There is a puddle on the floor
If you enter the room and start to feel the floor wet, then start to be wary. The most obvious sign that a basement has a moisture problem is standing water in it.
It can occur due to several factors, namely, water leaks from the sink, shower, washing machine, or bad pipes.
Water build-up on the foundation may also enter through cracks, joints, or porous concrete.
5. The mold stains on walls and objects
This other easy to observe sign is the mold. The stains usually appear in the form of black dots on the surface of the walls.
If you do not take immediate action, this can spread to other parts.
Humid spaces trigger the growth of mold on carpets, furniture, and other objects. Spores will be easily dispersed in the air and inhaled.
It will cause allergic reactions, such as sneezing, coughing, eye irritation, and skin rashes. And it does not stop there.
As we mentioned above, it will cause more health problems in the long term, especially for people with asthma.
6. Other things you also need to be aware of
Humidity due to excessive water content is something you should be aware of. In addition to the signs above, you also need to be careful if you find the following conditions:
- Water in unfinished basement. There may be a leaking part that you need to find out and do waterproofing.
- Water leaking into basement after heavy rain. A large flow of water may damage one part. Fix it ASAP.
- Water seeping through basement floor cracks. If this happens, immediately patch the cracked part to prevent flooding in the room.
- Water coming in basement where walls meet floor. It indicates there is a leak that you need to fix immediately.
- Water seeping through foundation slab. Delayed handling not only threatens the condition of the room, but can also result in flooding in the basement.
Those are some signs that you must immediately find out how to fix water problem in basement. Please find out the cause and take countermeasures before a worse problem arises.
C. How to Fix Water Problem in Basement
An ideal house should have several significant aspects to fulfil, such as air circulation and cleanliness. In addition, keeping the basement dry is also something you should not forget.
However, this last aspect is frequently-overlooked, causing several kinds of problems. Starting from moisture, the damage will spread to various parts.
The basement humidity is out of consideration because most people are more focused on maintaining the interior or yard.
If left alone, a basement with high water content will cause many problems, such as easy moldy walls, broken floors, and a damaged house.
Then, how to fix water problem in basement?
The only way is to make sure that every corner of the room down there is always dry. Do not let it feel like a spooky haunted house.
How to keep the basement dry
A damp basement can be due to several things, such as incorrectly installing drains, clogged gutters, and also rain seeping into the ground into the basement.
To work around this, you can do the following:
1. Add a Drain
Seepage of water may occur if the drain is too close to the area of the house. Therefore, you need to extend and divert it so that groundwater does not return.
It would be better to install a buried drain in the ground.
In addition to keeping your page looking beautiful, its presence also does not interfere with activities on the page.
2. Cover the Leaking Part
A damp basement could be due to a leaking pipe or drain. If so, you can cover the leaking part with cement or special waterproof glue.
In addition to basement waterproofing, another way you can do is to replace or cut the leaking part and then replace it with a new pipe.
After that, observe if there are still problems that arise.
3. Create a Gutter
Generally, the house is on a foundation that is directly attached to the ground. It can cause water to enter the bottom of your residence, in this case, the basement.
Making a small gutter is an alternative how to fix water problems in basement. The goal is to drain it away from the house that it does not inundate your home.
In addition, you can also make a water embankment or shallow ditch that drains water away from the house area.
Do it carefully, but do not let the water flow into the neighbor’s house.
4. Check Underground Pipes
Some houses have drains buried under the house. It can cause the walls or floors of the building to be damp and moldy and spread to other problems.
You can overcome it by cleaning the drains of dirt. The method is easy, open the water channel and spray it with a garden hose.
Carry out these inspections regularly to ensure they are in good condition.
5. Pumping
You can also remove the puddle in the basement by pumping it with a machine. First, find the part with the most water.
After that, make a hole in the floor and dig a little. Insert the pipe connected to the water pump machine, and drain it away from your home area.
That is a little explanation about how to fix water problems in basement that you can do yourself at home.
If you find it difficult, do not hesitate to seek help from an expert.
D. Water in Basement Who to Call Near Me: Service and Price
Even though you already know how to fix water problem in basement, there are times when you cannot handle it yourself.
Not a few people have big moisture problems that need help from an expert. The high humidity in the basement usually gets worse during the rainy season.
Furthermore, the location adjacent to the river or rice fields can also be a reason. Handling is sometimes quite hard to do.
It is normal because the water on the ground surface will be absorbed into the basement and lead to high water content and moisture condition.
If that happens, what should we do? How to fix water problem in basement? This is what to do if you cannot handle it yourself.
1. Who to Call?
Generally, every building or house has a contractor or contractor who builds the house from scratch. They are the ones who know where the sewers are and how they work.
If you have problems with basement humidity, you can contact their contractor. Thus, you no longer need to worry about errors in how to fix water problems in basement.
However, if you have difficulty contacting or the contractor is far from home, you can also contact experts around your home.
2. Basement Seepage Repair Cost
The amount of repair costs depends on the level of damage to your home. As a guide, here are some of the costs of repairing a damp basement.
a. Installing the Sewer
In general, a humid basement occurs because the sewer is too close to the house. You can install or add a drain for about $10 per foot.
Have workers or contractors excavate in the yard to install additional drains. In addition to contractors, you can also hire the services of a landscaper to do this.
b. Patching Leaking Drains
Although it looks easy, patching a leaky drain requires its expertise. You need to understand the appropriate material for patching, which cannot be arbitrary.
Builders usually patch with hydraulic cement or polyurethane putty, which you can buy for about $20.
This fee does not include repairman services for patching.
c. Making a Gutter
Houses built on foundations that are directly attached to the ground are why the basement becomes damp.
Of course, this makes the room uncomfortable.
That is why you need to build additional ditches so that water does not directly seep into the ground and can drain away from the house area.
For a small house, you only need to spend a few hundred dollars. If the gutter to build is big enough, you need to prepare around $1,000.
d. Repairing Underground Pipelines
Another cause of the basement becoming damp is a problem with the plumbing buried under your house.
Leaking water can enter the building through small gaps.
For this one, you need the help of experts such as contractors or plumbers. The cost of paying for the services of a plumber is approximately $600.
e. Installing the Water Pump
The most effective way to deal with a damp basement is to remove the water around the room with a water pump.
To install the pump, you need to pay a fee of $3,000.
Likewise, the amount of the fee depends on the type of pump machine you use. In installing a water pump, you need the help of an expert or professional in this field.
The reason is that part of the installation process will make holes in the walls or floors and also dig the ground to install water pumping pipes.
If you make a wrong move, the results will be messy.
Contacting the right people for home repairs or maintenance is one way that you don’t have to spend extra money.
Understanding how to fix water problems in basement can make you feel comfortable living with your beloved family.
Thus, you can immediately take preventive action if something happens.
E. Preventing Water Problems in the Basement: Tips and Maintenance
As the location is under the building, the basement should get attention before construction. Do not let some wrong calculations or components ruin many things.
Missing things can become even dangerous problems, one of which is Bad air circulation. Although quite common, you have to be aware of the effects in the future.
Improper construction causes the room to become damp and stuffy. It then leads to the damaged objects inside and the health of the owners in the long term.
Therefore, you need to know how to fix water problem in basement. Here are tips and treatments to prevent moisture problems at the bottom of the house.
1. Maintain good and smooth air circulation
When deciding to build a basement, it means you have to pay special attention to air circulation. The absence of air ventilation makes the air inside becomes humid and triggers mold growth.
For that, you have to keep the air circulation in the basement well and smooth to reduce the potential for fungal growth. It will be good for your health too.
Installing an exhaust fan can be one way to make it happen. In addition to inhibiting mold and other risks, the cellar will be fresher.
2. Avoid wallpaper or paper-based materials
The amount of water content below the ground is much more than above the surface. Therefore, high humidity can trigger various other problems if not handled quickly and appropriately.
One way to prevent basement moisture problems is to avoid using wallpaper or any paper-based furniture or decoration.
The reason is that the material made from paper is easily torn and decomposed. It will be the best place for mold to grow.
In addition, paper is a material that is not waterproof. Its ability to absorb water has the potential to help the growth of fungi around it.
3. Choose the best furniture material
The next tip to prevent moisture problems in the basement is to choose the appropriate furniture material.
A room that is prone to mold and potentially damages any object in it, so you need to choose durable furniture.
To avoid things that will harm even in the long run, avoid wooden furniture. Although it can absorb water, wood can crack due to moisture and mildew.
Therefore, plastic furniture is a better choice. It is the best because of the small chances for mold to grow.
Even if it is overgrown, it will be easy to clean and not have an impact. Thus, it solves the humidity problem.
4. Cleaning regularly
The last tip and maintenance are to clean the basement regularly. It also applies to any room in the house.
However, cleaning the basement is a must, given the level of humidity that can be detrimental. In addition, provide a heater in it to increase the temperature.
Cleaning the room will help you to remove dust, dirt, and the potential for moisture down there. Thus, the fungal growth will also be less.
F. Conclusion
That is an explanation of how to fix water problem in basement. Again, do not forget about the cleanliness of this room because the damage can affect other parts of the house. Good luck!
Shery
