A basement is a wonderful thing. It has the potential to double your square footage. It gives you a casual place to hang out, more bedrooms, and plenty of storage.
But a basement also comes with a risk. No part of your home is more likely to take on unwanted water than the subterranean rooms.
A technician and service that specializes in waterproofing for basements can help preserve your home. But how do you know if you really need this service? And when do you have it done?
Keep reading to learn about the best times to have a technician evaluate and then waterproof the basement in your home.
When You’re Building a New Home
Ideally, when you’re building your house, you should have the exterior walls waterproofed. This will ensure years of a dry basement in your new home.
If you’re moving into a home that owners had waterproofed when they build it, have a basement expert inspect it. Many times waterproofing materials wear off with the constant ebb and flow of the groundwater around the basement. The location, soil, and landscape slop all determine the duration of the waterproofing.
At some point in their existence, all homes can take on water. Keep an eye out for the lurking signs of water in creeping into the basement so you know it’s time to call in an expert in basement waterproofing.
When You See Water Stains
As you conduct regular inspections of your basement, keep a keep eye out for water stains on the walls and floor. If you see the outline of water, first determine that no one has unknowingly spilled water in the area or a machine has not overflowed.
A water stain could also indicate a leaky pipe. So look at your water meter and water bill to make sure it’s not flowing. If you can, use a service like Eye on Water to track your water usage.
Once you’ve determined the water isn’t coming from a machine or a leak, take action immediately. Seepage around your basement and through cracks could cause stains water stains. You need to address this problem immediately before it causes structural damage.
When You Smell Bad Smells
Bad smells like musty, damp odors indicate a problem with water in the basement. Excess water seeping through cracks will increase the humidity in your home. But humidity can also go up when you use appliances that require water like washing machines and water heaters.
So, first, determine if your basement has proper ventilation to deal with the moisture from these appliances. If you continue to have high levels of humidity and a damp smell, bring in the basement expert to look for seepage.
When You See Sparkles
Glitter isn’t always beautiful.
White sparkles or efflorescence is a sparkling light effect you can see on bare floors and walls in the basement. You may also notice a powdery white stain.
These stains indicate the presence of moisture in the basement. They’re mineral deposits that form on the concrete when the moisture evaporates.
When Outside Water Accumulates
If you have water accumulating outside of your home, look for a source. You may have puddles from a recent rainstorm. But if there’s no logical conclusion like rain from the sky, then begin your search for the source.
Water could come from a leaky pipe underground. Start with this. Excess water outside the basement of your home could easily leak into your house, so look for this leaky pipe first by monitoring your water bill.
Otherwise, you may have a type of soil that lends itself to poor saturation. If that’s the case, you must have your basement waterproofed.
You should also look into having your soil regarded outside of your home. Make sure the soil slopes at an angle of at least one inch for every foot of distance so water drains away from the basement. Clean the gutters around your home as well and make sure all water streams away from the basement.
When Rust Forms
Iron will rust when it sits in the water. So if you have high levels of humidity in your basement, you will see rust on the metallic materials holding the basement together. The nails holding pictures on the wall will begin to rust and then streak.
If you see rust forming on the iron pieces in your basement, call in a professional waterproofing service to inspect your basement for water leakage or intrusion.
When Occupants Are Sick Often
If your home’s occupants are suffering from constant allergy symptoms such as headaches, weepy eyes, and scratchy throats, they may not have allergies at all. They may be reacting to hidden mold in your damp basement.
A damp basement provides mold with an ideal growing environment. Spores grow in hidden spaces, and they leak into the air and through the air ducts. They will travel through the ventilation system and into the entire home, causing a mysterious illness among the occupants.
If your home occupants are finding themselves sick often with respiratory illnesses, call in a basement expert. They will have solutions that can help you living in a less humid and ultimately healthier environment.
Essential Waterproofing For Basements
When you build a new home, have the basement waterproofed. If you sense the signs of potential water in your basement like rusty iron, water stains, odd smells, or pools of water on your lawn, then call in the experts in waterproofing for basements.
If you’ve seen these signs, contact us. We can help.
Our locally, veteran-owned, and family-owned company has been helping keep homeowners dry for over 20 years. If your basement leaks after heavy rain, we have solutions that will keep your basement dry and preserve the integrity of your home.
Our services come with a full life of the structure warranty. So when the rain begins to fall, you can rest easy knowing you’ll have a dry basement and a healthy, safe home.
Give us a call today. We’ll conduct a thorough inspection and provide you with a quote for the best basement solutions for you.
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