Keeping Your Basement Dry

Basements are handy to have and if yours is finished (it has a permanent floor not dirt) they are especially good to have because it doesn’t take much to make it a gathering space, workshop, or storage area. Even if your basement is unfinished it’s good to have a space below your living area to get to your piping and to protect your family in the event of a weather disaster.

When you have a finished basement you tend to pay more attention to its condition. You will notice excessive moisture or damp spots simply because you are in the basement regularly. If your basement is unfinished, you may not notice the elements creeping in because you aren’t down there very often, but in either case, a small water problem can turn into big problems. If you notice a little more humidity than usual, it is time to investigate.

Water has a habit of finding its way into your home through the simplest of conditions. There are areas that many homeowners ignore because they just don’t seem terribly important or you put off fixing them until next year. This friends, is a mistake. Remember an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Not every time you find water in your basement does it mean you need your basement waterproofed by a professional. Here are a couple of tips to keep that water outside where it belongs. First look at your gutters. Gutters exist for a reason and the biggest reason is to keep rain from pooling around your foundation. If your gutters get full of leaves, the water spills over and can pool around the side of the house. It will try and work its way into your basement. Clean the gutters regularly and make sure the downspout flows away from the house.

Another problem is the slope of your yard. The yard’s slope should be higher next to your foundation so water drains into the yard not into your house. These are easy fixes friends and can save you a lot of money in the long run. A damp basement causes humidity, mildew and mold. If you don’t want that locker room smell or embarrassing and unhealthy mold, take some action. Remember, that if your water problem is persistent you need to have your basement inspected by a basement waterproofing specialist.