If you want to avoid a wet basement in the spring, take the time now to repair four simple problems that can lead to basement leaks.
Because the majority of damp basement issues begin outside the home, now is the perfect time to eliminate them and experience a dry basement from now on.
Here are four common problem areas to address in order to fix a leaky basement.
Gutters: Clogged gutters blocked with leaves and other debris are the most usual cause of rain and melting snow runoff that leaks into your basement. When gutters are clogged, water running off the roof has nowhere to flow but over the edge of the gutter. That often spills the water right next to the foundation of your home.
Gutter cleaning ought to be a central part of your fall and spring clean up routine. Examine your home’sgutters in the autumn after most leaves have dropped and then again in the spring to look for ice damage and debris that may have collected over the winter.
Downspouts : Make sure your house’s downspouts are reaching at least eight-to-ten feet away from the foundation. If you are utilizing troughs or downspout extensions to lengthen the drainage area, check that they are pointed down hill.
The Foundation: Inspect the dirt around your house’s foundation and make sure that it drains down and away from the foundation. If you need to add soil, use fill dirt or soil with high clay content. Stay away from using black dirt. Black dirt is too porous and water draining off the roof will soak right through the black dirt before it has a chance to drain away.
Also inspect cement sidewalks and patio slabs that touch the foundation. If the slabs are sloping down towards the foundation, they should be be mud jacked up or replaced. If there is only a slight slant, you may be able to get away with caulking the joint where the slab hits the basement wall with a waterproof caulk.
Basement Windows: If your home has window wells, check to make sure the gravel at the bottom of the well hasn’t been clogged with debris or that plants are growing in the window well. Clean out the plants and leave and rake the gravel to help loosen it and restore drainage.
Use your pre-winter home repair routine to get ahead of spring basement leaks and keep your basement dry.
To learn more about how to keep your basement dry and leak free, visit basement-leak-repair.com.
Tags: basement