How To Prevent Basement Water Damage

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Basements are one of the most versatile rooms in the house. They can be used for storage or even house “game rooms” complete with pool tables, arcade machines and large TV’s.

All of these items cost money which means that they need to be protected. Unfortunately, basements are the most at risk place in your home for flooding and water damage. Why? The answer is simple: water flows down until it can’t go any farther, eventually ending up in your basement.

While this may sound like simply an annoying problem, water damage can destroy carpets, entertainment devices and in severe cases even cause foundation damage.

Consider the following ways to keep water from damaging your home:

Get a sump pump

Every basement has a basin designed to hold excess rainwater until it can wash back outside (through a small hole in the bottom of the basin). This usually provides enough drainage to protect your basement. Unfortunately, the large influx of water that accompanies large rainstorms can overwhelm the basin and cause it to overflow-damaging your basement.

In order to avoid this, purchase a sump pump to help force water out of the basin and keep your basement dry. Since large storms can be accompanied by power outages, make sure to get a sump pump with a battery backup.

Pay attention to your gutters

It may seem counter intuitive, but in order to protect your basement, look to your roof. If your gutters are working properly, they should funnel water to a safe location and prevent flooding. However, blocked gutters mean that rainwater simply spills over the side and lands directly under your house-and sometimes ends up in your basement.

Make sure to keep your gutters clean to avoid this. In addition, make sure the spout at the end of your gutters is long enough to carry water a good distance away from the house (not to mention aimed in a direction where water won’t simply slide into your basement).

Check your floors and walls

Most basements are made by pouring concrete above the foundation, which can crack over time. If you have an unfinished basement, be sure to inspect the ground and walls periodically for cracks or other holes. If you find any, caulk them immediately to prevent water from leaking into your basement.

Get your basement inspected

The American Society of Home Inspectors is a highly regulated organization that can inspect your basement for potential flooding problems and offer solutions. While an inspection does cost money, the amount pales in comparison to the cost of replacing the contents of your basement (especially if you are storing invaluable possessions such as family heirlooms or other “memories”).

This article is produced by Westbrook Julian, a writer and editor who has personally experienced basement water damage, the worst form of damage your home would experience. She has written this article as a way to share with you some useful things you may not know in terms of Basement Waterproofing.

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