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Water In Basement 102

I grew up in a house with a basement that flooded regularly, due to a drain located right outside the basement door that always got clogged up with leaves and other debris from surrounding trees and foliage.  It was a pain, to be sure, and looking back, I kick myself for not seeing what an easy fix it might have been.

98% of all basements will see some form of water intrusion over their existence.  You might not be able to stop it, but you can take steps to minimize the damage. 

Firmly believing that the best defense is a good offense, I suggest being proactive in checking your basement regularly for problems, including leaky pipes or broken window seals.  Don’t forget the outside; remember, our problem was with an outside drain that was clogged.  Likewise, clogged gutters or downspouts can channel water into areas where it does not need to go. 

Look at your landscaping; the land around your home, particularly your basement, should slope away from your home, not towards it.  Make whatever corrections you need to make to insure that it slopes away.

Inside your basement, you can apply waterproofing sealant around windows and walls.  It’s not 100% effective, but it will help.  You also want to elevate water heaters, furnace, or electrical panels several feet off the floor, putting them out of the way of potential flood waters.

A flooded basement is no fun…cleaning water in basement is even less so.  Wet carpet in your basement can become a health hazard nightmare.  So take the appropriate steps to protect your home, and when you do have issues, call your local water damage restoration company.