When you experience a leak in your house, it can cause a lot of stress and frustration. You may not understand how to spot where the leak is coming from or know the extreme damage that a leak can cause if you allow it to get out of hand. Your basement is a very common area to experience a leak due to all of the water pipes that are down there.
If you are struggling with a leak in your basement, it’s important that you get a good understanding of what it is you are dealing with. You want to be able to solve the problem in the best and fastest way possible.
If you aren’t quite sure what a basement leak is, it’s when there is water seeping in through some other outlet such as the outdoors, pipes, etc. And it’s coming into your basement either dripping down the walls all the way to the floor or straight onto the ground.
What are the Most Common Causes of a Basement Leak?
Cause #1:
Draining Problems- These drain problems that is coming from outside your home. This means that there is nothing in your basement that is causing the problems, it’s all outside. This occurs in houses that were built many years ago when we didn’t have as good of construction as we do now. The drain issues are most likely coming from you gutters.
The water will leak down into the soil and through the cracks in the walls and flooring. This is where the annoying leaks may be coming from.
Cause #2:
Hydrostatic Pressure- Underground water can leak into your basement. This is because when the subsurface water level gets too high, above your basement floor level, the pressure will force water through and spaces or cracks that are in the foundation of your home.
Cause #3:
Broken or Cracked Pipes- There could be a problem with the pipes that are above your basement. One may have busted or there could be a crack from many years of use and it’s causing water to leak into your basement.
How to Spot a Basement Leak?
The best way to spot a leak in your basement is to do the following steps:
Step #1:
Examine- Take time to examine your basement to see if there are any visible cracks or holes in your foundation. The most common place for these to appear are at the very top of the basement walls or the very bottom of the wall. The cracks may be too hard, it may be easier to find with a flash light.
Step #2:
Mold or Mildew- This is a great way to find a leak in your basement. The areas where mold and mildew are growing are the most or the fastest are likely to be the source of the leak. That means that there is water or there was once a lot of water coming from that area.
Step #3:
Paint Wear- If your basement has paint, look for areas on the walls where paint is tearing and falling off. It is likely that this area has experienced a lot of water damage.
Step #4:
Have an Inspection- Spend some time and money getting your plumbing and basement inspected by a professional. If you can’t find the problem on your own, hire someone to do it. They will surely find the problem that is causing the leak in your basement.
What Kind of Damage can a Basement Leak Do?
If you allow water damage to become prolonged and out of hand, it can really take a toll on your basement. Here is some of the damage that it can cause:
- Mold- Water can cause mold to many things, especially carpet, walls and flooring when the water has been sitting there for such a long period of time.
- Rust- If it has to do with your pipes or any thing else metal, you may experience rust. This is what happens to metals when they turn really brown or gold.
- Electric Problems- Water does not mix well with electricity, as I’m sure you know. If you have television, radios, or anything that is electric.. Chances are it’s going to cause a lot of hazards in your home. It could even start a fire and that is a whole ‘nother list of damage that you don’t want to get into.
Buckling Walls- Yes, water damage can become so bad that it can start to make your walls cave in or bucket down. This is a sign of very prolonged leak problems.
If you allow the water damage in your basement to become so bad, it can tear your house apart. Your basement is what your house is built on. If you are noticing a leak in your basement, it’s very important that you take measures to get it fixed as soon as possible so you don’t end up with a lot of damage.
