Heavy Rain Makes the Basement Wet? Solution is Here

January 14,2021

Whether you are a buyer, seller, or owner of a house, damage to water from a damp basement is always a problem. Not only is the wet basement unusable, but the submerged foundation will be severely weakened. Toxic molds pose a threat to indoor air quality in residences.

People panic when the basement leaks. However, failures can usually be attributed to drainage conditions outside the house. If too much water accumulates in the soil around the foundation of your house, it will naturally seep into the basement. Water will leak from the walls of the basement or even from the center of the basement floor.

Although a damp basement is generally considered to be one of the biggest household maintenance problems in life, the water problem in the basement is usually easy to solve. Continue reading this article to see the best solution.

The basement leaked after heavy rain

After heavy rain, do you always notice water in the basement? You are not alone. Many homeowners experience the same.

Rainwater is definitely the main reason why water seeps into the basement. Even if it does not rain, there is always water on the ground. But when it rains or snows, more water is absorbed into the ground. Once the soil is saturated and no longer holds water, the groundwater level (the level at which the ground is saturated with water) will create hydrostatic pressure under the foundation of your house. Excess water flows to your basement.

At the same time, the water absorbed by the surrounding foundation soil causes lateral pressure. Both hydrostatic pressure and lateral pressure leak moisture and water into the walls and floors of the basement.

The water in the basement after heavy rain is a serious problem. If it is not resolved early, it may cause serious losses and may cause you to lose thousands of dollars.

Get a good drain and keep it clean

So far, roof drainage is a major cause of basement leakage. Since the surface of the roof is as large as the house, they will accumulate a lot of water during heavy rain.

A properly designed gutter should have at least one downspout for every 600 to 800 square feet of the roof surface. The drain must be clean! It is also important to ensure that the end of the downpipe extends at least four to six feet from the foundation. The spout is too close to the foundation, like a large fire hose spraying water into the basement.

If the yard allows, one of the best ways to control roof drainage is to discharge downspouts into solid PVC pipes. These pipes should run underground and release water to the street or other low-lying areas. When making this improvement, make sure to tilt the pipe slightly towards the discharge point to avoid spares. Also, make sure that the end of the pipe is visible. This way, if a blockage occurs, you can visit it for cleaning.

Slope soil keeps surface water away from the house

In addition to the gutter problem, the angle of the soil around the foundation can also cause moisture in the basement. The soil should be inclined away from the house to prevent rain from gathering on the foundation walls.

The angle and type of soil are also important. The soil should slope down six inches in the first four feet from the foundation wall. After that, it can be gradually graded, but never let the water flow back into the house.

Get rid of moisture in the basement

Once the water is removed, use a blower to dry the area quickly and thoroughly. Because floors and walls often absorb moisture. This will definitely cause mold growth under the floor and behind the plasterboard, which can cause great damage to your house and property. Starting from an effective air mover, AlorAir® Zeus Extreme Axial Air Mover and AlorAir® Zeus 900 Air Mover are excellent blowers, with different sizes and power levels.

Another important tool is a dehumidifier. This will eliminate excess moisture in the air remaining after heavy rains. Even if the basement is completely dried, moisture will remain in the air, which may still damage the walls and furniture. Not to mention, it will still be able to create an ideal environment for mold growth. Alorair Sentinel HD55 Dehumidifier and Alorair Storm LGR Extreme Commercial Restoration Dehumidifier are the best tools most homeowners choose for basement dehumidification. They have functions that homeowners are satisfied with, and can improve air quality while dehumidifying.