The basement is one of the most difficult areas of the home to maintain because it can be incredibly prone to accumulating moisture. If there is even a small amount of moisture, you can begin to develop foundational issues, cracks in the walls, mold, or a range of other problems. Because of this, most homeowners go out of their way to take steps to waterproof their basement or ensure it remains dry in some other way. Although there are many options available to accomplish this goal, here are some of the most effective and common choices.
Drainage System
A drainage system of some sort is a key element of waterproofing any basement because if for some reason water does enter the area, it can eliminate it quickly and efficiently. Although there are both interior and exterior drainage systems, most people opt for interior ones simply because they require less effort to install, making them more affordable. Despite this, either option can be incredibly effective but one of the keys is to ensure that the drain is placed deep within the basement, preferably near the top portion of the concrete. This will ensure that it can drain water from any location in the basement including the lowest points even if they are on the other side of the space.
Dehumidifier
Some people are surprised to learn that a significant portion of the water in their basement or crawlspace enters via the concrete walls and flooring, specifically their porous material. If there isn't enough moisture to accumulate and form water, then a drainage system will be only mildly helpful. In this case a sub-flooring dehumidifier can be an excellent option. This device will work to lower the overall air humidity, decreasing the amount of water vapor and making it harder to collect. This can easily be done in either a basement or crawlspace.
Fix Other Problems
In some cases, a wet basement or crawlspace is due to issues in other areas of the home. Some of the most common culprits are the water heater as well as the hook-up hoses for the washing machine. The problem with water heaters is that they are usually designed to automatically refill so if there are any cracks or leaks, your basement will get wet every time the heater refills. It is possible to create a containment barrier that connects to your drainage system but you should also take the time to fix any potential home problems such as a broken water heater that are causing the wet basement.
To learn more about these and other solutions for waterproofing your basement, contact us at http://tristatebasementrepair.com/.
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Common Options For Keeping Your Basement Dry
