Your basement is getting sticky and uncomfortable? To help you out, here are the most effective ways for protecting the basement; and getting rid of unpleasant (sometimes even dangerous) moisture.
The Causes
Before you start removing moisture, learn the reasons behind it. The way you deal with moisture should depend on causes for it appearing in the first place. There are number of reasons why moisture levels rise in a basement; from frequent showers to detached gutters. Here are the common reasons:
- Frequent usage of water appliances
(showers, cooking, dishwashing, laundry rooms) - Damaged or old windows
(improperly sealed or installed windows increase humidity levels) - Damaged pipes
(clogged and leaky pipes cause excess water to enter) - Insufficient drainage
(homes without proper drainage systems like gutters, sump pumps and weeping tiles) - Interior leaks
(broken concrete, walls and windows cause water leaks on the inside and increase moisture)
Basement Waterproofing
Whatever your reason may be, the most important thing is to have a properly waterproofed basement. There are tons of ways you can do this; either with installing sump pump mechanisms or covering the walls and floors with waterproof sealant. What basement waterproofing does is it makes sure excess water doesn’t reach your basement; resulting in minimum cracks or leaks and little to none moisture.
Interior & Exterior
The most popular methods are interior and exterior basement waterproofing. In the latter, the exterior perimeter of your house is dug up and a system of pipes is placed around it; gathering excess water from the backyard and directing it toward a disposal area like a street or a sewer. In the former, the piping mechanism is spread on the inside, across the basement; gathering water and directing it toward a sump pump from where it is pumped out of your interior.
Ventilation
If your basement is waterproofed but still has moisture; then you must undertake other actions. Sometimes these situations are complicated and sometimes very simple. First, we will talk about a simple problem – not enough ventilation. Here is how to completely solve it, just by following these simple steps:
- Frequently run dehumidifiers.
- Purchase ceiling fans.
- Open up the windows more often.
- Upgrade the windows to more efficient ones.
- Create a window well.
Drainage
The more complicated situation is having poor drainage systems. The thing we talked about earlier or basement waterproofing is in fact a drainage method. The weeping tiles gather excess water, and direct it to a sump pump which pumps out the water later on; leaving the home nice and dry. However, sometimes homes need more sump pumps and better piping. If your basement is moist, you probably have insufficient drainage systems who don’t do their job right.
Additionally, not having gutters can lead to major floods in the basement. Since rainwater falls on the ground; right next to our home’s foundation. It accumulates and puts pressure on the walls and floors. And because cement and concrete don’t last forever; they break under that pressure and allow water to enter the interior. Having gutters will direct rainwater elsewhere. And having an exterior basement waterproofing system won’t even allow it to get near the foundation.
About Draintony
We are a locally owned and operated plumbing company; providing residential and commercial owner plumbing services. We specialize in Drain Repair, Drain Cleaning, Basement Waterproofing; Sump Pump Installation, Clogged Toilets and more. Our team at Draintony will provide you premier plumbing quality and premier plumbing services.
