Below are signs that your sump pump may need replacing. Contact a professional if you are unsure.
If you hear unusual noises from your sump pump, there may be cause for concern. Unusual noises could mean an assortment of issues, many of which we will cover below.
It's best to monitor the sump pump to ensure it is working correctly if you do hear noises.
Sometimes, even a working sump pump may not be able to handle heavy water flow in your basement.
This could be a sign that your current sump pump needs to be upgraded, or that you need to install a new drain tile or baseboard system to assist.
A constantly running sump pump is going to wear the machine down a lot quicker than normal.
If you just had heavy rains or a long, snowy winter, it may make sense for the sump pump to run without stopping for a period of time.
However, if that short period of time turns to a long period of time, or there hasn't been an unusual amount of water fall, then there's a good chance the sump pump is not working correctly.
Sump pumps do not last forever. Like all other home tools and appliances, sump pumps have a shelf life.
Sump pumps typically last 8 to 10 years. Even when they are maintained well, they probably won't last much longer, but this can be fixed with a replacement.
Sometimes sump pumps are not installed correctly from the get-go.
In fact, it may have been installed incorrectly, and you may not even know it for some time.
When heavy rains strike your basement, the sump pump isn't able to handle the water and shows signs that it was not installed correctly.
Sump pumps come with a float that tells the system when to turn on and flush water out.
When that system is broken, the sump pump won't turn on.
Your sump pump not turning on could also mean an assortment of others issues, such as a power or electrical issue.
If you need to repair or replace parts on your sump pump constantly, it may give you a better return on your investment to simply replace the entire system.
It will also give you some peace of mind not having to worry about it every spring of in heavy rains!
Sump pumps that are not surrounded by good insulation can become frozen and build up an ice dam.
When that happens, the water flowing out has no place to go except back into the sump bucket (and possibly into the basement!).
If you sump pump is turning on and off frequently, it is best to monitor the situation.
It could simply be an electrical or float issue. It could also mean that there is too much water for the sump system to handle.
In that case, a new basement waterproofing system may be in order.
If too much water is piling up in your sump pump (or is even overflowing out), then it is probably time to replace the sump pump.
There could be another problem, such as a blockage or power problem, which we will discuss later in this article, but it could also mean the sump pump is ready to be replaced.
As mentioned earlier, the float switch can prevent the pump from functioning correctly.
There can also be pressure problems that lead to the pump not turning on or off as intended.
Rust on or near your sump pump is not usual, but it can happen.
The constant running of water can lead to rust and even holes in your system.
When sump pumps are overused, they can overheat and wear down.
Replacing the system may be an option, but in reality, the new system may end up overheating as well.
We recommend fixing the problem at its source rather than just the symptoms of the problem. Overheating may simply be a symptom.
Contact a professional to identify the source of your basement water problems.
Mold and basements are common pairings. With lots of water flowing through sump pumps, and being that they are located in basements, mold can accumulate.
If you see mold around your sump pump, it may mean that the system is not draining water as it should, and it needs replacing.
Water leaks are not good, especially in sump pumps.
If your sump pump leaks water, the channels need to be replaced or the sump pump itself.
If you sump pump is not powering, the system itself may be dead.
It could also mean that there is an electrical issue.
Sump pumps can come with backup power.
If your backup system is not working, the trigger may be broken, or the backup power unit may be dead as well.
If you sump pump constantly clogs, a replacement may be in order.
It does depend if the clog is in the channel pipes or in the sump pump itself.
Are you dealing with any of the following issues:
Let's identify some possible solutions for these issues.
A dry basement is a safe basement - in most circumstances. Keeping the basement dry will deter mold growth and some types of cement or foundation failures, but this is not true in all circumstances.
Air flow is important for keeping basements fresh. Some solutions to this are fans to allow air to circulate. As long as the air can enter and exit in the right places this will help with the circulation. Dehumidifiers may also help with ventilation. Exhaust vents are also sometimes installed in basements to allow air to move throughout the house.
Dehumidifiers can help with the humidity, as mentioned before. You can read more about humidity and find out if your basement is too humid in our article below:
Leaks can be a culprit of basement dirtiness. These leaks can be from multiple sources, such as the floor, walls, and even plumbing pipes.
If there is any mold accumulation in your basement currently, clean it out thoroughly. Remove any items that have mold growth and make sure to clean the surrounding areas thoroughly. Mold can infiltrate items in your basement, even if you can't see it. Allowing some mold to remain may allow it to come back in greater numbers in the future.
It's also important to remember that even if you do clean up the mold currently sitting in your basement, your basement may not stay fresh and clean for long. If the environment is ripe for mold growth, then that is exactly what will happen again if the environment isn't fixed. Waterproofing solutions may be in order if this is the case.
If you have old boxes, furniture, or other stuff in your basement, it can be difficult to see mold behind the mess. Oftentimes this allows for mold to grow without us catching it first. Removing old items in your basement may not necessarily fix all the mold issues, but it will allow you to catch it if mold growth starts to take place.
Another option is to organize your basement so that everything is seeable in case you need to inspect items for mold in the future.
Cleaning regularly is a spectacular idea for your basement. If you are using water to clean the basement, be sure it gets dried up when you finish so that it doesn't add to any mold or must issues.
For obvious reasons cleaning dirt, dust, and other residue makes for a fresh basement. As an added bonus, unwanted fungal growth will be stopped at its source so it doesn't take over the basement.
Dryer vents can be a surprising basement attacker. The vents can either accumulate moisture or add moisture to other areas, and by now you probably are aware, moisture isn't a good ingredient in the basement. Two things should happen with the dryer vent:
We hope this list was helpful, and you should now be well on your way to having a clean and fresh basement.
Here are 21 ideas (and a bonus) for the best ways you can make use of your extra basement space.
Turn your extra basement space into a game room, whether it be video games or traditional arcade games. You could even bring a pool and ping pong table into the space, although those do take up more space. Air hockey would be a great addition. You could even combine this with a home theater, which we'll get to next on this list.
Put up some sound panels on the ways, install a TV, bring in some comfy chairs or couches, and you have yourself a theater experience - in your home! You no longer need to spend $50+ to go to the movies because you can bring the movies to your basement. Don't forget your snacks, which you can store in your kitchen. See more about that next on the list.
Unfortunately, this is too common in basements, and most of us know someone who has this problem. Our goal is to rid basements of moisture and to allow you to make use of your basement.
An extra kitchen would be handy, wouldn't it? You can install a bar, sink, fridge, and cabinets to store snacks and more. This is great for parties and to invite guests over when the upstairs is unavailable.
If you have a lot of extra "stuff", using your basement as a storage locker may be a good idea. It's important to know, however, that if you have water problems in your basement, any boxes or other items you store may be ruined. Or worse, mold may accumulate on your items.
Do you work on projects regularly? Have you run out of garage space for those projects? You can always use your basement as a work station. Set up a work bench and some shelves on the wall to hold your tools, and you have a good start to your basement work shop.
Depending on where you live, the basement is oftentimes the safest place to go when tornadoes or other natural disasters occur. In the case of extreme emergencies, you can always store food, water, and other survival resources in an area of your basement.
Basements are great for home offices. They also don't have to be super elaborate. Find a small (or large) area, put up a desk, and you have an office!
For larger families, or when you don't have a living room in the upstairs, the basement a great place to put one. You can put a TV in front of some couches, and it will look great alongside a kitchen & bar. The basement doesn't even need to be all that large, either! Small living rooms work great as well as larger ones.
Have lots of drinks to store but nowhere to put them? Purchase a large rack (or build one yourself), and then you can store all your drinks in the basement. It's even better if you can set the climate or if you have a cellar in the basement specifically designed for drinks to be stored in.
If you have relatives over somewhat frequently or just want to have an extra room in case of an emergency, you can always put one or more guest bedrooms in the basement. It's a good idea to also have a bathroom and shower in the basement to go along with the rooms, but they aren't absolutely necessary.
Splitting up a multi-family home with an apartment in the basement is a smart play. You can deck it out to act just like a finished home with all the amenities that you'd see in a full-sized home. Or it's great to have the grandparents live on the main floor while the next generation sleeps in the basement.
There's no need to messy up the main level with all of your kids' toys. Instead, put a play area downstairs where they can make all the mess they want, and no one (expect you) will ever know what's down there. You could even go all out and make a jungle gym down in the basement or a foam pit for the kids to play in.
Basements are excellent spaces for home gyms. Depending on the height of the ceiling, you could put barbell racks, dumbbells, ellipticals, mats, medicine balls, running machines, and more! If your basement floor is built for it, you could even put a mat down to drop your heavy weights onto without worrying about the noise level.
Speaking of noise levels, if you put your laundry room downstairs in the basement, you won't need to worry about the swishing and swooshing of your clothes being washed anymore. You will also have more room to organize the clothes once they are washed and dried. A smart idea is to set up shelves and dedicate a slot for each person's basket.
This is the dream basement for many people - a hot tub or sauna! You will want to make sure that the room is set up to hold any water spillage and the moisture that will inevitably steam onto the ceiling and walls. Any water not taken into account could cause damage to your basement area.
If you have recording equipment, the basement is a smart place to put up some sound panels on the walls and create that album you've always wanted to. Or even if you don't wish to record, you could put a piano down there, or put up some guitars on the walls, and pull them down when you're ready for a quick jam session.
Another idea is to use the basement for art projects. Are you into drawing? Painting? Sculpting? Another type of craft? Make the basement into an arts and craft room, and you no longer have to set up the space every time you want to let loose on a creative project.
Do you own lots of books? Or maybe you want to, but you keep ending up having to throw out old ones because you're out of space. Put up some big shelves on the basement walls, and you can even organize them however you wish. It's your own personal library.
Videography and photography become bigger parts of people's lives year after year. You can use your basement as a studio to take a new family photo each year. Use a green screen, or you can set up new and unique backgrounds each time you want to take new photos or videos. Or you can build your personal brand with a unique set up behind the camera.
When you don't have space in your upstairs, the basement is a phenomenal place to store canned foods and other foods that won't go bad quickly.
A freezer room is a great extra place to have when you find yourself storing lots of meat and frozen foods for longer periods of time. You can use a room in your basement to stock two or more freezers so you no longer need to worry about running out of space.
In this article we outline the essential steps you should go through when hiring a basement contractor to avoid losing money, time, and your basement.
There are some red flags to avoid in basement contractors and also some positives to look for.
Check on Google, Yelp, and Facebook to see how customers have reviewed the contractor in the past. Look specifically for contractors that didn't finish the job or ghosted the customer.
Sometimes (not always) complaints can be made via the Better Business Bureau or other local review platforms. It's always a good idea to check these as well before hiring a basement contractor.
If the business has pictures of the work they have completed in the past, be sure to check those out, and make sure it is up to par for your needs. Sometimes customers will post pictures on Google as well where you can see the quality of work by the professional.
What makes a good basement contractor?
When you call the company, do they do what they say they will at the time they said they would do it? Have they been honest in all their quotes and processes before you hire them. These can be a tell-tale sign of whether you should hire the contractors of not.
Do they keep you in the loop of what is happening at all times of your project? Sometimes contractors can go through extremely busy seasons, so it may take a few days to get back to you. But when they do, is everything provided that was promised?
This may go without saying, but it is also important to be sure that the basement contractor you hire is well-versed in basement "things". Have they been in business for 5+ years, or did they just open up shop this year? Generally the company that has been in business for longer has more to lose, so they are more likely to provide you with the best service.
Does the contractor have an official license? In most cases it is required by law, and it's suspicious in general not to have one.
It's always a good idea to have a backup plan in case something goes awry. If they contractor breaks something on your house or property, are they insured to cover those expenses and to what extent?
Sometimes products go bad (and it's not always the fault of the contractors). For example, if the basement contractor you hired installs a drainage system, and then the system breaks in a year, will you be able to have the company come out and replace the faulty product. Oftentimes basement companies will have a process for submitting warranty claims, so check to see if the one you are potentially hiring does as well.
Make sure you have several questions lined up to ask your contractor!
And without further ado, here are the best tips we can offer on how to hire the best basement contractor.
Make sure to do diligent research online before hiring a basement contractor. Find a list of the best basement contractors in your area and mark off contractors until there is only one left. This includes reading online reviews, checking out past work they've done, timeline, and budget. Also, it's important to remember that cheapest is not always the best. Sometimes the cheapest do the poorest quality work. Not always, but it's something to keep in mind.
If your friends are homeowners as well, chances are they (or something they know) have gone through basement foundation or water leakage issues in the past. If so, they may know a basement contractor they trust. Reach out by word of mouth or on social media to see if anyone has any recommendations. This can be the best way of finding a crew for you, as you will probably trust your friends more than strangers online.
Salesmen are oftentimes paid on commission. Large companies will oftentimes send out salesman to "sell" you their services rather than finding out the root problem in your basement and figuring out realistic solutions to fix them. Pride yourself on finding a company that provides "realistic" solutions to real basement problems.
Any basement contractor that comes out to check on your problems will send out a quote soon after they leave. Gather a few quotes from different professionals. Most will give these out for free, so feel free to ask two or three different basement companies to provide quotes!
Again, it's important to remember that cheapest isn't always best, but you now can evaluate the pros and cons of each of your quotes. List out what is important to you and your family, and decide based on that.
Before making the decision to bring a basement contractor into your home, be sure to ask about their licenses, insurance, and warranties. This can save you headaches in the future big time!
Our team prides ourselves on living out these qualities. We'd love to help you reach your basement goals, and keep your home safe and dry for good.
Yes, improper lawn slope can cause basement flooding issues. In fact, poor yard drainage is a common culprit to basement leakage issues. Instead of rain flowing down and away from your foundation, your yard acts as a funnel and brings water into your home.
This is especially frustrating when heavy rains occur. The rain falls onto your yard and rolls down towards your foundation.
The first step is to verify that this is the culprit to your basement leakage issues. There could be other issues involved, such as gutters and downspouts clogging or not pushing water far enough away.
In order to fix the lawn slope issues, you will need to make sure that the highest point of the yard is closest to your home, and that it has a funnel downwards and away from your home. This requires heavy equipment and machinery. This is not a one man with a shovel kind of job.
We always recommend consulting with a professional before making any changes to your yard, as the work done may not actual help solve the root issues.
As mentioned before, your basement flooding issues may not be the grading at all. It could be due to the fact that there are gaps in your soil that are allowing water to seep through and run up alongside your foundation walls or floor. The solution to this is backfilling dirt into these open areas in your soil. Again, we recommend hiring a professional to figure out which issue it is you are dealing with.
As a percentage, you generally want your yard slope to be at least 3%. It can definitely be higher than that, but anything lower than that may be risky.
A good idea the next time it rains heavily is to take a peek outside your home's foundation. If there is standing water, it may mean that your yard needs to be re-graded. It could also shed light on some of the other issues mentioned earlier, but either way, standing water next to your foundation is not good news.
The best time in the midwest to regrade yards is summer through fall. The ground is the softest, and it will also allow you to lay grass seed or sod before it gets cold again.
This is a tough question to answer without seeing each case individually. Oftentimes fixing yard slope issues involves a bit of both - adding to the top and removing from the bottom, and then leveling it out. This is another time we would recommend consulting a professional before digging in. It may save yourself a lot of headaches.
Dealing with a humid basement can be a pain. Learn why it is happening and how to fix it.
High humidity levels are caused by excess moisture in your basement. This can happen for various reasons, such as poor drainage or insufficient ventilation through the basement.
Humidity problems are oftentimes not the disease but rather a symptom of other issues. Humidity can be brought into your basement through the air, liquid water runoff, and a couple of other ways (but we'll keep it simple for this article).
Drainage systems are crucial for keeping moisture out of your basement. If you have poor drainage systems, humidity will easily find its way into your home. The most common basement drainage systems are the drain tile system, baseboard system, and a sump pump.
Another common issue we see is the slope of yards funnel towards homes instead of letting the water roll down and away from homes. Combine that with clogged gutters and downspouts, and you have a real issue at hand. The water enters your basement and causes unwanted humidity.
Ventilation can help carry moisture out of your home. This is the reason why basements are breeding grounds for mold and moisture. There generally is not much air flow in basements, and the moisture has nowhere to go. It ends up building up in the basement.
Appliances, such as washers, dryers, bathrooms, and kitchens can cause unwanted humidity problems. If you are running any of these appliances in or near your basement, they could be the source of the issues.
Sometimes new homes' basements can carry moisture and the problems that come along with it.
Okay, what you came here for, right? How do you fix humidity issues in your basement? Truth be told, there may be some things you can do to lessen the symptoms, but if there is a "disease" in the basement, you need to fix it at its source, or the problems will keep coming back.
The dehumidifier is the most commonly known way to get rid of humidity in your basement. You power it on and let it do its thing.
However, as mentioned before, this may not fix your basement humidity issues for good. If water is entering your home through an external source, the dehumidifier won't fix that. You'll need to have it looked at by a professional to see what fixes need to be done.
It is generally safe to run a dehumidifier all day. Most dehumidifiers will only run when needed and shut off once they reach a safe level.
Sometimes drainage systems are the only way to go to really fix your humidity issues.
Yes, 60% humidity is too high for basements. Generally, a safe humidity level is between 30-50%, but that can vary a bit depending on where you live and the conditions of your environment.
Once humidity levels reach above 55%, mold can start to grow. That is why it is so important to keep moisture out of your basement, as mold is a serious health risk for people of all ages.
Have you ever felt energy-less on a humid day? It's not just you. High humidity levels can cause health and energy side effects. Moisture also can block your body from releasing heat, causing your body to over-heat in humid living conditions.
The only sure way to guarantee a fix for your humidity issues is to hire a team of professionals that know what they're doing and have experience with these specific issues.
Is your basement floor warping?
Find out why it is happening and how to fix it.
The two main causes of warping and curling in basement floors is temperature and moisture.
When there is a difference in temperature and moisture between the top and bottom of a concrete slab, sometimes this will cause curling.
Some parts of the concrete slab will be dry and some wet. The dry parts contract and the wet parts do not, leaving parts of the concrete wanting to go up and other parts wanting to sink down.
Oftentimes cracks will occur alongside curling.
If you have a hardwood floor installed in your basement, moisture and temperature can also cause warping in the wood.
Moisture collects under the surface. Some parts will be dry or cool, others will not which leaves parts of the wood warped and other parts not.
Warping of the slab, oftentimes known as curling, is when parts of your concrete slab slant up or downwards because of the temperature and moisture difference in separate parts of the concrete. Dry parts will often curl up along the edges, and wet parts sink down in the middle.
Oftentimes cracks will occur when a basement floor curls, but this is not always detrimental. Sometimes cracks will occur, but the foundation load is still okay to hold. It's best to hire a professional to inspect your specific situation.
Some basements floors will bulge upwards, whereas others will sink downwards. The cause of this depends on what the underlying issue is.
If your warped basement floor needs fixing, there may be several options. The cost depends on which option you go with. Foundation repair is oftentimes not cheap, but it can be a great investment into the safety and worth of your home. You can see our full waterproofing cost estimate here.
One thing we know from over 50 years of waterproofing basements is that the issues don't fix themselves, and most of the time they get worse.
The best way to be sure that the issues you are facing will not get worse is to hire a professional team to give you an inspection.
Sometimes there are obvious fixes, and other times the fixes are quite unordinary. Be sure to hire a team that has lots of experience with your specific issues. Here are questions to ask waterproofing contractors.
If your basement drain is clogged, find out why it's clogging, how to fix it, and what you can do to stop it from clogging again in the future.
Most basements have drainage systems that take unwanted water from the home's foundation, and channel it away from the house. The two most common systems we install are the drain tile system (otherwise known as the French Drain) and the DRY-UP Baseboard waterproofing system.
A common cause of a clogged basement drainage system is improper slope. Oftentimes we see channel systems installed at an incline rather than a decline, or it goes up and down rather than only downwards. Gravity will pull the water to the lowest point, and this can cause clogs.
The most common case of a basement floor drain clog is because debris is blocking the drainage pipe. This could be trash that shouldn't have been thrown down the drain or an assortment of other disposed items, like hair or dirt.
Sometimes unreliable waterproofing companies will install cheap and non-durable drainage systems. These will inevitably cause issues to arise in the future when large amounts of water need to channel out. Also, if your house is a bit older, the system may just need an upgrade.
If you are experiencing any of the below issues, they could be caused by a clogged basement drain.
If your basement floor is curved or slumping in an unnatural way, this could be caused by water being backed up underneath the concrete surface.
If your basement floor is experiencing cracking, this could be caused by a clogged basement drain. In this case, the water is pushing up on the basement floor and causing it to crack.
If your basement leakage occurred after heavy rains recently, this could also mean that your drainage system is backed up and not working properly.
The most common telltale sign of a clogged basement drain is standing water on your floor.
Here are some simple solutions for unclogging a floor drain. Remember, it is always best to consult with a professional before trying any of these solutions.
A common fix to a clogged basement drainage system is to use a snake to pull out unwanted debris. You must be careful using this method, however, as some basement drainage systems could be damaged by some of the snakes. Again, we recommend consulting with a professional before you risk ruining your drain pipes.
Sometimes the ol' baking soda & vinegar trick will work. Simply pour it down the drain, and see if it helps clear up the clog.
A plunger may also do the trick. Simply place the plunger in the entrance of the drainage pipe and have at it.
It's important to recognize whether your clog is coming from inside the house or outside. If, say, a laundry machine or leaking interior plumbing pipes are causing the issues, be sure to shut off the water before trying to fix the problems.
If you have standing water in your basement, the first step is cleaning it up.
Mold is not good. Be sure to dry your home properly if you've recently experienced water leakage.
As mentioned before, you need to be sure to diagnose your floor drain problem before trying to fix it. There are dozens of reasons why your basement is flooding, and by not understanding the problem before trying to fix them, you are risking "fixing" the wrong problems and causing more severe damage in the future.
Another point to consider is whether your basement drain clogs frequently or this was a one-time event. If this happens frequently, we know there is an underlying cause that can be fixed. We also can be sure that if it has happened several times previously, it will probably happen again in the future. This makes solving the issue a high priority, as waiting to fix your clogged drains will cost you thousands in fixes.
Before pouring Drano down your basement drain, it is important to recognize what type of drain this is and what its purpose is. If this is a sewage drain, then it is probably safe to pour Drano down. If this is another type of drainage system, be sure to check with your local contractor professional to be safe that is will not cause unwanted damage.
The price of unclogging a basement drainage system depends on the culprit of the clog. If it is a simple fix, you may end up only paying in the hundreds. If your basement drainage systems need to be upgraded, it could cost anywhere from $2,000 - $20,000 to resolve the issues.
As briefly mentioned before, old houses were not always built with high quality drainage systems. They used what were available at the time, but these older houses oftentimes need new basement drainage. As always, consult with a professional before making a decision on fixing your basement drains.
Fix it now
Are you stuck with water in your basement and wondering what your next steps should be? This article will give you step-by-step instructions on how to dry your basement and keep it dry for the future.
First, be sure to check if any electrical devices are still plugged into your basement walls. These can be dangerous when there is standing water in the basement, so be sure to stay away from those until the basement is dry.
Your first step is to get the water out of your basement.
You can use a sump pump to drain the water out of the basement. Keep in mind that if you do use a sump pump, the water may just end up back in your home unless you drain it to a place that won't funnel down back into your home.
Another option is to use a shop-vac to suction the water up. Make sure to dump far away from the foundation so it doesn't end up back in the house minutes or hours later.
Once you have gotten any standing water out of your basement, you'll want to dry it out as much as possible.
A dehumidifier is an excellent option for drying out your basement. Simply plug it in (to a safe outlet) and let it do its thing by drying out moisture from the air.
A dehumidifier can also help prevent mold, as the best way to prevent mold is to make sure no water remains. Along with a dehumidifier, you can purchase mold-reducing products that will stop mold from producing after water damage. Make sure to remove any damaged materials and furniture, as mold can grow on an assortment of surfaces.
If you decide to keep your furniture, make sure it has been completely dried. Again, you don't want mold to grow or for the wood structures to rot out from the water damage.
Water can cause a lot of damage. It's important to check to see how much damage has occurred and what damaged items you'd like to replace. Homeowners insurance oftentimes does not cover water damage that comes from a source outside of the home. It's best, however, to check with your homeowners insurance company to be safe.
Don't forget to check under carpeted areas and behind furniture!
If there was standing water, be sure to clean any items that were touched by the flood water, as it can oftentimes be dirty and even muddy.
Wood will sometimes need to be replaced, even if it doesn't seem wet from the outside. Wood can by dry on the outside and wet on the inside.
After you have dried out your basement, it's vital to diagnose how the water came into your basement in the first place.
Sometimes it comes up through hydrostatic pressure from beneath your home's foundation, and other times it is heavy rains that cause the water table to rise too high surrounding your home. You may even see a pipe burst and cause a wet basement (homeowners insurance does cover this often). Or there are simply too many cracks in your basement floor that are letting water go straight through.
Whatever the case, be sure to figure out how the water came into your basement so you know how to come up with a battle plan for the future.
Once you figure out how water entered your basement, it's important to put measures in place so it doesn't happen again. Basement waterproofing systems come in several shapes and sizes. The best way to figure out which waterproofing system you need (if any at all) is to contact a professional waterproofing team to have it checked out. Oftentimes, basement waterproofing companies will offer free estimates, so it can't hurt to give one or two a call to look over your basement.
Nobody wants to see moisture on their basement stairs. The obvious reason is because your basement stairs are wet, and you need to walk up and down them. The other reason is that there could be deeper issues at hand. The water had to have come in from somewhere, the questions are "where did the water come from" and "will it continue to come in?"
Water can enter basements through many ways - walls, cracks in the floor, windows, cove joints, moisture coming up through the floor, and more. Diagnosing where the water is entering your basement is the first step in stopping these issues. An experienced professional will be able to diagnose these issues a lot quicker than the average homeowner, so we always recommend having a pro check it out just to be safe.
To keep water out of your basement stairs, you'll need to channel the water away from your home's foundation. This can include keeping the grade of your yard sloping away from your home, cleaning out gutters and downspouts so water doesn't overflow onto the ground, and a variety of other waterproofing techniques.
Here are some of the most common ways to keep moisture off your basement stairs.
If your gutters have debris in them, they could overflow and spill onto the ground near your foundation. During the spring season and on rainy days, the soil could become oversaturated, and it won't have anywhere else to go but into your basement.
If your yard is sloped downwards toward your home, the water will take the path of least resistance. So, again, when it rains or during melting season, the water will funnel into your home. If your stairs are near the wall, they could be left wet if untreated.
Caulking is one of the best ways to waterproof the exterior or your basement. It is essentially a thick paint that doesn't let water through. It takes hard work and heavy equipment to apply, but it's worth it if it keeps water off your basement stairs.
Dehumidifiers can also help keep moisture out of your basement and away from your stairs.
Wet basement stairs can lead to slips and falls. This is not good, given that basement floors are hard and not pleasant to land on.
Mold is a silent striker. It can sometimes be hidden, but it's there, and it is not healthy. Breathing in mold can be harmful to you and your family's health. Fix your moldy basement.
A little bit of water may not immediately rot the wood stairs, but after consistent exposure, the wood will decay and be left for dust after many years of moisture.
