Basement Waterproofing Solutions
Waterproofing your basement can be extremely beneficial for your home for a variety of reasons. Here's what you need to know about the solutions involved in the basement waterproofing process.
Basement waterproofing is one of the basic elements of ensuring you have a healthy basement. If you’re going to take the steps you need to take to ensure a healthy basement, waterproofing should be one of the things you do as early in the process as possible. Water is one of the biggest problems in a basement, which is exactly why you need to address it early on in the process. Here’s everything you need to know about your potential basement waterproofing options.
What Solutions Can I Use for Basement Waterproofing?
Basement waterproofing solutions vary wildly and tend to offer a variety of extremely unique solutions for different basements. Here are some of the most prominent basement waterproofing options you may want to use in your basement.
Although it shouldn’t be your absolute first choice, a basement dehumidifier can be a great way to remove excess humidity from your basement. Dehumidifiers are able to get your basement humidity down to whatever relative humidity percentage you choose, which means you can fine-tune the humidity in your basement.
Of course, it’s extremely important that you remove the original source of humidity in your basement before you install a basement dehumidifier. However, if you already have something managing the water entry in your basement, a basement dehumidifier can be an effective way to then manage the humidity.
Especially if you tend to have issues with your basement flooding, it’s important to install a basement sump pump to pump that floodwater out. If you don’t have a sump pump in your basement, any water issues in your basement will just stand there, causing recurring standing water problems. This can lead to all the issues you already saw tend to associate with standing water in the basement.
A basement sump pump is the perfect way to avoid basement flooding problems, especially if they happen to you regularly. Whether you live in an area that’s prone to flooding or you just have basement pipes that could burst and create flooding problems, it’s important to have a basement sump pump so you can handle it.
An interior drain refers to a drain system that goes around the perimeter of the basement. For the most part, the interior drain is a great way to help with water in your basement before it collects in the generalized interior of the basement. Specifically, an interior drain helps reroute water to a sump pump by collecting it around the perimeter of your home’s basement.
This type of drain is incredibly beneficial for many basements, especially ones that typically have flooding issues from the walls. With an interior drain, you no longer have to worry about water in the basement, especially if that water comes from the walls instead of the floor. Plus, you can install interior drains as part of a drainage system in general, rather than having to do it exclusively on your own.
One of the biggest ways water can enter the basement is by coming through an external door. If you have an external door to your basement, you may have problems with water coming in from the outside. Whether you end up with lots of water coming in from the outside or just a small amount, diverting it is a crucial element of maintaining the health and well-being of your basement.
This is where a grated drainpipe comes into play. With a grated drainpipe, you no longer have to worry about whether you’re going to end up with water coming into your basement through the door. This grated drainpipe essentially causes water entering through the door to fall underneath the basement floor, where it diverts to the sump pump. It’s a great way to maintain your basement’s overall health, especially if you have flooding problems.
Basements typically need an egress window to stay up to code. An egress window is a window that allows exit from the basement in case of an emergency. There are many different ways you might be able to exit from the basement through an egress window. However, it’s important to know that if you install an egress window incorrectly, you may have issues with waterproofing both now and in the future.
Your egress window needs to have a strong seal around the exterior and interior of the window to ensure that water doesn’t get through it. Additionally, there are other things you can do to make sure your egress window doesn’t allow water inside, which you might need to invest in if you’re having problems with your egress window. It’s important that if you’re installing or replacing an egress window in your basement, you maintain your waterproofing throughout.
Why Is Basement Waterproofing So Important?
Some homeowners don’t know why basement waterproofing is important in the first place. If you don’t know why it’s important, you’re unlikely to pay much attention to it. Here’s why you should consider waterproofing measures for your basement.
- Standing Water
If you haven’t taken the time to waterproof your basement, you may end up with standing water. There are a number of reasons this may occur. For example, it may happen when hydrostatic pressure forces water up from underneath the basement. It may also happen when condensation creates pools of water on the floor.
Regardless of the reason for the standing water, it can cause all sorts of problems. It can evaporate into humidity, cause waterlogging throughout the basement, and help mold develop and grow throughout the basement and the rest of your home. Standing water is one of the biggest threats to your basement’s health and well-being, and it’s important to treat it as such.
- High Levels of Humidity
When water vapor has access to your basement, you’re almost certainly going to end up with very high levels of humidity all throughout the basement. These high levels of humidity will always have a negative impact on the basement health; it’s common for high levels of humidity to lead to mold and mildew growth, problems with basement settling, and much more.
If you have high levels of humidity in your basement, you’re going to end up with all sorts of problems, and it’s extremely important to know that early on. High levels of humidity in your basement are a sign that something’s wrong, but it’s also a sign that you’re going to have secondary problems you might associate with the basement humidity.
One serious problem with basement waterproofing comes from hydrostatic pressure. This is the pressure water exerts when it’s at rest. Because water weighs around 62 pounds per cubic foot, it’s extremely important to recognize that water settling all around your basement is going to have an impact on the way the basement functions.
This is also a problem for crawl spaces, but it’s especially a problem for basements because basements typically go much deeper into the ground. That means they’re at higher risk for even more issues with hydrostatic pressure, including more gallons of water pressing on every wall. Reducing the amount of hydrostatic pressure and increasing your basement’s structural integrity can be a beneficial way to reduce basement concerns both now and in the future.
Basement Water Problem Causes
Waterproof Your Basement More Effectively with a Basement Repair Expert
Contacting a basement repair expert is often one of the best ways to waterproof your basement much more effectively. If you’re looking for a better way to make sure your basement stays watertight, you’re going to need to talk to a basement repair expert. That’s the best way to ensure your basement gets the care and solutions it needs.
This is why so many homeowners trust these professionals with options to maintain their basements. When you have a basement repair expert helping you with your basement options, you’re going to have the basement waterproofing solutions you need to keep your basement healthy and dry.
