3 Basement Waterproofing Tips Every Homeowner Should Know
When it comes to basement waterproofing, it is all about prevention. It is also about water diversion and trying to relieve hydrostatic pressure that can build up in the soil outside the foundation walls. While you should always have a professional install your waterproofing system, there are a few tips and tricks every homeowner can do to help waterproof their basement.
1. Preventing Hydrostatic Pressure
Believe it or not, homeowners can do a lot to help prevent hydrostatic pressure. As mentioned before, hydrostatic pressure occurs when water builds up in the soil around the foundation. These pressures can result in foundation cracks, water leakage, and seepage.
However, homeowners can help do their part in order to prevent this by maintaining gutters and downspouts. You should never let a broken gutter, irrigation, or drain pipes dump water next to the foundation. Keep landscaping and grade sloping away from the foundation and make sure to keep the drainage in the yard from draining towards the foundation as well. Lastly, avoid any snow piling up near the foundation that will later melt and drain into the soil come spring.
Basically, make sure to keep the soil around your foundation to be as dry as possible.
2. Do Some Self-Inspection
The biggest of your basement problems always start small. That is why it is always important to catch little problems early on so you can get things taken care of quickly and with little damage to clean up after words.
So make sure to take the time to do your own basement waterproofing inspections every couple of months. Take a look at the foundation and inspect it for cracks. Check to see if there is any leaks and moisture around, especially when the weather has been dry for the past few days. Is there a musty odor coming from your basement or any mold hiding in the corners?
Just with these little inspections, you could end up saving yourself thousands of dollars by noticing and fixing foundation issues immediately.
3. Fix And Maintain What You Can On Your Own
Clean out the gutters. Fix any broken downspouts. Make sure to regrade your landscape to slope away from the home. Keep a close eye on the sump pump to ensure it is working properly. If you already have a basement waterproofing system in place, you can also run a dehumidifier in the basement to help with humidity and moisture levels.
Don’t have your basement waterproofed yet? Contact us at AAA Waterproofing to learn more about all of our waterproofing services.