Your basement is the foundation the rest of your home is built on, and any problem there affects the whole house. This is particularly true for water damage. The location of the basement and its proximity to both pipes and groundwater make it especially vulnerable to leaks, flooding, and the buildup of moisture. In turn, basement water damage can have a detrimental impact on the surrounding environment, negatively impacting air quality and potentially even weakening the home’s structure.
One of our key missions at Biodynamic is to both mitigate and remediate the damage caused by the unwanted presence of water in basements and other areas of the home. Below, we’ll discuss common causes of water intrusion in the basement, tips for preventing those causes, and what to do if basement water damage does occur.
Signs of Water Damage
In some cases, the presence of water in your basement may be both dramatic and obvious, such as a major flood. However, in other instances, the signs of water damage may not be as clear. You will need to look out for certain tell-tale signs of water to determine if it has made its way into the basement. Musty smells may indicate the presence of mold or mildew, which grows in the presence of moisture. Black or brown streaks running down the walls or similar colored splotches on the floors may indicate that there is water damage.
The next step is to locate the source of the moisture, of which there could be numerous possibilities. The following sections list some of the most common, as well as the solutions you can utilize if you discover an issue.
Humidity
Poor ventilation is a major contributor to water damage in homes, and it’s not an issue confined only to basements. Anywhere humid air becomes trapped, it can lead to condensation, as water vapor accumulates on surfaces that are lower in temperature than the air itself. Ultimately, this water will build up and begin to absorb into the building materials in the home, causing them to warp or buckle and encouraging mold growth.
Solution: Basements are particularly vulnerable to humid air as they tend to be cooler than the rest of the home. The lack of windows also means they are often poorly ventilated. Investing in a dehumidifier and placing fans throughout the space can help to clear moisture from the basement atmosphere.
Leaky Foundations
Most modern-day houses are built on sturdy foundations of poured concrete, which, for the most part, do an excellent job of keeping the elements at bay. However, groundwater is relentless in its ongoing search for entry points into your basement, and even the most well-constructed concrete slab cannot keep it out forever.
Over time, water will begin to seep through any cracks and crevices in the structure, eventually causing it to enter the basement and become the source of the water damage you have discovered in your home.
Solution: Often, the weakest points in the foundation are the joints, that is, where the walls and floors meet. As you look for the source of the leak, check these areas first. Once you have located the cause, you can apply commercially available sealants to block the flow of moisture through any cracks or crevices.
Damaged Pipes
Basements are typically home to the various water pipes that keep your household running. They may be in the basement ceiling, underneath the basement floor, or along the walls. If any of these pipes become damaged, they can leak, let water into the basement, and cause damage. Water pipes may begin to degrade from normal wear and tear, leading to minor but continuous leaking, or they may burst completely as the result of a freeze or other weather event.
Solution: If a pipe has burst, it will likely require extensive repairs, so ideally, you should try to prevent the problem in the first place. You can do so by insulating pipes if you are in a climate that is vulnerable to freezing. Regular plumbing maintenance will also help to prevent pipes from leaking around the basement and elsewhere.
Preventing Water from Getting In
Basements are among the most vulnerable parts of the home when it comes to water damage, simply due to their physical location within the structure. That’s because wherever the water may be coming from, gravity will draw it toward the basement. So even a leaky attic can ultimately lead to basement water damage. Many problems that affect the basement, as we mentioned with poor ventilation, may also be whole-house problems that can create issues elsewhere.
Investing in the overall well-being of the home, from the roof to the insulation to the structural foundation, is often the best way to keep water out of the basement. You can also invest in equipment to remove excess water as it builds up in the basement area, such as a sump pump.
If Damage Does Occur
If a flood or other large-scale water intrusion has occurred, more extensive repairs can be performed by storm and water damage professionals such as Biodynamic. The first step is to prevent basement water damage from spreading further by boarding up affected areas or placing tarps where needed. The next step is to remove water that has collected in the space, which is done with industrial wet vacuums and other related tools.
Once the progression of the damage has been halted, the process of repairing your property begins. Biodynamic tracks this process through extensive photographic documentation of the basement and the home’s structure.
If your home has faced water damage, whether in the basement or elsewhere, contact Biodynamic to discuss repair and restoration options.
