Stopping Water From Seeping Through Basement Walls

There are many different reasons for water ending up in your home’s basement. Thankfully, at HRS, we know how to fix water seepage in basements. 

A basement seepage fix may include installing a downspout extension, thoroughly cleaning gutters, replacing windows, and plugging cracks. 

Other ways to stop basement water seepage involves installing an internal drain system, waterproofing your walls, or resloping the yard. Not all, but some of these fixes require a major investment of time and money. But as anyone who has ever had a flooded basement can tell you, it is a steep price to pay every time it rains if you end up doing nothing.

While cleaning out your gutters, installing a downspout extension, and plugging cracks will help, if other conditions exist that could cause a flood, all of those DIY fixes won’t matter. 

You’ll wish you called in a professional water damage restoration company like HRS Restoration Services to find and fix ALL of the causes of water seepage in basements. HRS performs water damage restoration in Denver. Whenever you have water seeping through a basement wall, mold can quickly take hold and threaten your health. Thankfully, HRS Restoration Services provides mold restoration in Denver. 

We’ve been trusted by homeowners and employers in the Denver area for decades. Give us the chance to earn your trust too.  Our water damage restoration experts know what causes water seepage in basements and will respond 24/7. Your health and safety is important to us. 

Remember, the longer water remains in your basement, the more likely it is for mold and mildew to take hold. Water can also quickly damage your walls and floors the longer it remains. HRS provides water extraction and mitigation in Denver. Call us at the first sign of a leak so we can stop basement seepage ASAP. 

 

Signs Of Leaking Basement Walls

Basements, like most rooms in your home, are best kept dry. If you see any signs of water seepage in your basement, don’t assume it is nothing to be concerned about. A damp basement can warp flooring and walls and become a breeding ground for mold and mildew. Take common signs of water seepage seriously and note the location and intensity. 

Here are some different ways you may see water in your basement. A small stream, damp walls, and puddles on the floor are a few common manifestations of water seeping through basement walls. 

Small Streams Of Water

A small stream of water running down your basement walls when it rains could mean the water is entering your basement over the top of your foundation. When you have small streams of water in your basement possible fixes include installing a lateral drain, french drain, or a sump pump. 

Damp Walls

If your basement walls are damp to the touch the culprit may be small cracks and fissures where water is coming through. You can try to plug the cracks, but it may be a better investment in the long run to consider waterproofing your basement. 

Puddles On The Floor

If you have puddles on your basement floor, water may be entering at the cove joint. The cove joint is the area between where your floor ends and your wall begins. During construction these sections are completed at different times and cannot be built without leaving a seam. 

 

Common Causes Of Basement Water Seepage

Some common causes of basement water seepage include poorly mixed concrete, hydrostatic pressure, and lateral pressure. Other reasons for basement water seepage are downspouts that drain too close to the home, the kind of soil surrounding your home, and how the landscape slopes in your yard. Read on for more detail.

Poorly Mixed Concrete

The pockmarks that result from poorly mixed concrete are sometimes called honeycombs. The pockmarks, or air pockets, allow water to permeate the wall. Thankfully, it is not difficult to patch these areas to keep the water outside, and not inside your basement.  

Hydrostatic Pressure

“Hydrostatic Pressure” is when water pressure builds up against your home’s foundation. Water packs 60 pounds of pressure per square inch so in high amounts, this kind of pressure becomes impossible to keep contained. With enough pressure it will find a pathway into your basement.

Lateral Pressure

Lateral pressure describes what happens when the soil surrounding your house becomes inundated with water and the soil can’t absorb all of the water. If the water can’t be absorbed it will put pressure on the sides of the foundation walls and eventually into your basement.

Downspouts Draining Too Close To Home

If your downspouts are not placed far enough away from your home, water will find its way to the lowest point, which unfortunately, is your basement. Adding extensions onto your downspouts is a relatively easy way to prevent the water from flowing back towards your home. 

The Type Of Soil

Soil texture has a lot to do with whether water flows through easily, and how much water the soil can hold. Certain kinds of soil are more absorbent than others. Clay soil is the least absorbent and this kind of soil is found in Denver. 

Landscape Slope

If your landscape slopes towards your home, rain will also follow this path and can enter your basement. You can change the landscape by planting the right kind of vegetation to help filter and absorb rain water. You can also add additional soil to your yard so that any rainwater, or snow runoff, will flow down and away from your home’s foundation. 

How Water Seeps Through Walls

If water can find an entry point, it will undoubtedly end up in your basement. To understand how to stop basement water seepage, you need to know all the pathways water uses. Learn more about the ways water gets inside your basement in detail below. 

Over The Tops Of Your Walls

Water can flow over the top of your basement walls if the wall was not properly sealed during construction. A telltale sign is streams of water running vertically down your basement walls. 

Cracks In Walls

Cracks in your foundation walls are relatively common. They become an issue when the cracks are large enough to let water stream in. You may be able to seal the cracks or apply a layer of waterproof paint to create a seal to protect against water coming in. 

Window Wells

If the area around your lower lying basement windows does not have absorbent soil, rocks, or plants, water can build up around the window. This build up of water creates a substantial amount of pressure on the windows which can begin to leak around the edges. 

Leaking Pipes

You may have leaky plumbing pipes in your basement. This means every time you use the water in your home, there is a small amount leaking into your basement. If you don’t frequently go into your basement, you may not notice if this has been happening over time. Ignore leaky pipes at your own peril, because sometimes what starts as a leak, ends up becoming a burst pipe, which is a larger, and more expensive problem to deal with. 

How To Fix Water Seepage In Basement

There are some ways you can fix basement water seepage. Whether it’s regrading the soil or plugging tie rod holes, there are some relatively inexpensive ways to stop water from getting into your basement. Two other basement water fixes include cleaning out your gutters, and replacing window wells.

Regrade Soil

If you regrade the soil surrounding your foundation you can divert ground and surface water downhill and away from your home instead of into your basement. If you are experienced in landscaping, you could use a skid steer loader and a garden tiller to complete the job yourself. 

Plug Tie Rod Holes

A tie-rod hole is a hole left in concrete after the tie rods of the concrete’s framework are removed. If you can see water coming from these holes, you can plug them using a compressed swell plug.

Clean Gutters

If your gutters are clogged with leaves and other lawn debris, rainwater can’t flow through and away from your home. Instead, rainwater will have nowhere to go except to spill out over the sides of the gutter and end up close to your foundation. 

Rainwater flows to the lowest point, which in this case is your basement. Regularly cleaning out your gutters ensures this doesn’t happen. 

Replace Window Wells

Over time, your rusty and well worn window wells roll out the welcome mat for rainwater. You may need to replace your window wells if the seals around them are no longer keeping water out. Updated window wells will give water one less possible point of entry and help keep the soil away from your window openings.

How To Prevent Water Basement Seepage

Waterproofing Membranes

One way to prevent basement water seepage is to use a waterproof coating, or membrane, on either side of your home’s foundation. This will prevent moisture and humidity from passing through the wall. However, it is more difficult to carry out this process after the construction phase when doing so can cause issues with existing drains. 

 

Exterior French Drains

Installing an exterior french drain is a way to redirect rain or surface water into a gravel-filled trench, then into a perforated pipe at the bottom of the trench. 

Rain and surface water can move through the pipe and empty farther away from the house to a low-lying area of your property, a drainage ditch, or even onto the street. 

Interior Drain & Sump Pump

An interior drain system, like a sump pump, is another way to prevent water in your basement. A sump pump is a submersible device installed at the lowest point of your house, such as the basement or crawl space. If there is heavy rain, the soil around your home becomes inundated with water. The excess water has nowhere to go except towards the lowest lying point, your sump pump. Once the sump pump fills with water, the pump switches on and funnels water away from your basement. 

Waterproofing Paint

You can seal the interior of basement walls with high-quality waterproof paint. Once dry, the paint acts as a sealant, forming a watertight bond to keep any more moisture from seeping through. The walls must be bare for the waterproof paint to work so you may need to remove paint from walls if you or the previous owner painted them.  

 

What To Do About Basement Water Damage

If you discover water damage in your basement, the first thing you should do is disconnect the power to the basement to eliminate the risk of electrocution. You also will want to extract the water as soon as possible to preserve your belongings and stop mold and mildew growth. You can use a utility vacuum or a wet/dry vac. It may also be necessary to use high powered fans to aid in the drying process. 

If you have carpet, it will be more difficult to remove the water. A professional restoration company like HRS uses water extraction tools to thoroughly dry out your basement. 

If the water is flowing into the cove joint or through the tie rod holes in your basement, you’ll want to install a drain or plug the tie rod holes. A french drain will work well to direct water away from your basement, but it does not address the causes of why water is coming in. This may have to do with factors surrounding your home such as clogged gutters and a downspout that is not taking water far enough away from your home’s foundation. Whenever you discover water in your basement you are in recovery mode. Once the immediate threat of stagnant water and mold and mildew are removed, then it’s time to find the source or sources of the leak to ensure they’re fixed in time for the next weather event. 

When To Call A Professional

You may be able to make fixes to your home to stop some sources of basement water seepage. However, the causes of water getting into your basement are so numerous that it’s more effective to call a professional water damage restoration company like HRS Restoration Services. Fixing basement water damage is best left to HRS’s experienced team members. Our experts know how to stop water from seeping through basement walls.They will inspect and survey your basement and surrounding areas to find and fix all of the ways water can get into your basement. 

Why Choose HRS Restoration Services

HRS Restoration Services has been helping homeowners and business owners with basement water seepage for two decades. Our customers appreciate our 24/7 availability and rapid response time. Our dedicated staff are IICRC trained and up to date on all the latest in water extraction and mitigation technology. 

Call HRS today so we can keep your basement dry and mold free no matter what life throws your way. 

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