Easy Solutions to a Wet Basement

By Jon Labelle

If you're like more than 60 percent of homeowners, you've had or will have moisture problems in your basement. Because of its below-grade position, your basement will always be vulnerable to some type of water infiltration. The good news is that you know it's a possibility, and you can take precautionary steps now to avoid a major disaster later. The following steps will explain how to prevent basement flooding:

What to look for

Although finding several inches of water in your basement would be a clue that you have a water problem, most issues are much more subtle. You may notice a damp spot on the floor or a musty odor as you walk down the cellar stairs. Instead of assuming those are normal occurrences in a basement, you should start looking for the cause.

Condensation

As most remember from science class, condensation forms when warm air rises, then cools down and can no longer hold water vapor. It's easy to see condensation on your bathroom mirror after a shower but a little more difficult to diagnose on the basement floor or walls. One simple way to determine if you have a condensation problem is to tape foil over damp spots. If the outside of the foil is wet the next day, water is condensing from the air. If the underside of the foil is wet, water is coming in from an outside source.

To reduce condensation, you'll need to dry the basement out. Open windows, run fans or install a dehumidifier. It's best to locate the dehumidifier close to a drain as a heavy-duty unit can process up to 50 pints in just 24 hours. You can also help reduce condensation in winter months by turning up the heat in the basement, insulating cold water pipes, venting the clothes dryer to the outside and refraining from air drying clothes there. You can also apply a waterproof coating to the foundation walls to damp-proof them.

Runoff

This is another common cause of water infiltration. Rainwater or melted snow can move through porous walls or foundation cracks. If it isn't re-routed through interior footing drains, also known as weeping tiles, it can end up flooding your basement. You'll usually notice a problem during or immediately following a severe rainstorm.

There are a few external ways you can remedy this problem. Make sure the grade outside your home slopes away from the foundation. A good rule of thumb is one inch vertically for every one foot of horizontal travel. Downspouts should be checked for leaks and directed away from the house. Patch any cracks with polyurethane masonry caulk or hydraulic cement for anything more than 1/4-inch wide. Make sure gutters are cleared of debris to prevent overflow. Inside, a gutter system can be installed around the perimeter of the basement floor. Epoxy seals it to the floor and will safely re-direct any water that does come in to a floor drain or sump pump.

Subsurface or underground pressure

If you've followed all the steps above and still have a wet basement, you are probably dealing with a high water table or underground spring. You would notice a consistent problem long after a storm or water bubbling along thr edge of the floor.

This type of situation is going to require a professional basement waterproofing service. There are several solutions, from a simple, inexpensive fix to a major remediation. At the low-cost end, your contractor may inject clay into the soil and caulk cracks. A slightly more expensive course of action might involve creating and installing a sump pump system. This can be combined with a French drain system to channel water away before it enters the home. This costly work is very effective at combating subsurface or underground pressure but requires breaking up the concrete floor, laying gravel and PVC pipe, and a connection to the sump pump. If all other solutions fail, your contractor may have to install an exterior waterproofing system. As exterior weeping tile is installed at the base of footings, excavation will be required. A complex process of inspection, crack sealing, membrane application, and drain pipe installation will be included. This method will need a significant commitment of time and money. However, it will be a permanent solution for an otherwise impossible situation.

Replacing an old sump pump

You've already invested a lot of time and money in your new home. With a little effort, you should be able to use every space in it safely and comfortably. Consult with licensed local professionals prior any major waterproofing project.

Jon Labelle is a home improvement expert and the editor for Aquamaster Drain, Plumbing & Waterproofing Inc., a Toronto licensed waterproofing company that offers professional and efficient basement waterproofing solutions for commercial and residential clients in Toronto and GTA.