Water in the basement is no small matter. Not only can it cause significant structural damage, but it can also lead to dangerous mold and mildew growth. If basement water leaks are occurring in your home after every rainfall, it’s time to do some sleuthing to find out why water is seeping into the basement. Depending on the cause and severity of your leaky basement problem, solutions can range from straightforward DIYs to professionally installed drainage systems. Keep reading to find out what causes water in the basement after a rain and to learn some strategies for preventing it. Whatever you do, don’t just ignore the issue. Nipping it in the bud may save you from more costly repairs down the line.
Why Do Basements Leak After Rain?
It’s wise to be worried about water in the basement, especially in the case of wet basement walls or water coming up through the basement floor after heavy rain. Possible causes of water leaking in the basement include cracks in the foundation wall, seepage in the joint between the basement wall and the floor, and hydrostatic pressure—the pressure water exerts on the basement walls when too much moisture builds up in the surrounding soil. Problems with water in the basement after a rain may only become worse as climate change causes more intense and frequent rainfall, leading to an increase in flash floods. Fortunately, there are many ways to fix a leaky basement, and some of them are even DIY-friendly.
Ways to Avoid a Wet Basement
1. Maintain gutters and downspouts.
The first and easiest leaky basement fix is to make sure that your gutters and downspouts are channeling rainwater off the roof and away from the house. Clogged gutters and downspouts can cause rainwater to overflow, cascade down to the soil around the foundation, and seep into the basement. To prevent this from happening, keep the gutters clear by cleaning them yourself or calling in a highly rated gutter cleaning service. Gutters should be cleaned two times a year (spring and fall), but they may need more frequent maintenance if your property has a lot of trees. Periodically check the gutters for damage and make repairs promptly.
If the gutters tend to accumulate debris quickly, installing gutter guards or screens may help cut down on debris buildup and can potentially save on maintenance and gutter cleaning costs. Also, make sure the downspouts are directing water at least 4 feet away from the house. Attach downspout extensions if your downspouts fall short.
2. Regrade the yard.
Your property should slope away from the house to encourage gutter runoff, rainwater, and snowmelt to flow away from the foundation. A 2 percent grade, or ¼ inch per foot, is generally recommended. While capable and precise homeowners may be able to regrade their property themselves, for best results with drainage problems in the yard, call in a reputable landscape specialist or foundation repair company.
3. Install window well covers.
A window well is an excavated space around a below-grade window that allows natural light to enter the basement. Stains on the basement walls around the windows are signs that water may be building up in the window wall and seeping into the basement.
One solution is to improve drainage in the window well by adding a layer of gravel (4 to 6 inches) to the bottom of the well, ensuring that it’s about an inch below the sill. You may need to dig down to accommodate the gravel. But the fastest and most practical approach is to install window well covers. When properly installed, window well covers direct rainwater away from the window and the basement, reducing the risk of water infiltration and basement leaks. They also help prevent debris, leaves, twigs, and other foreign objects from falling into the window well and blocking the well or damaging basement windows.
4. Seal cracks in the home’s foundation or basement walls.
If you see water seeping in through the wall or water coming up from the basement floor, especially in the seam where the floor meets the wall, there may be cracks in the basement walls or foundation. Cracks should be sealed to prevent more leaks and further damage. Check for cracks, both vertical and horizontal, in key areas:
- Interior walls, especially where corners meet and around doors and windows
- Exterior foundation walls
- Basement floor, particularly near drains
- Crawl spaces
- Spots where utility lines enter or exit foundation walls
Homeowners can try repairing foundation cracks on their own. Use a putty knife or drywall knife to apply filler compound over the crack, let it dry, sand it, and paint it to blend in with the wall. Note that cracks may be indications of a larger foundation problem. If a crack is more than ½ inch wide, it’s best to call in a professional.
Hiring a professional to fix foundation cracks may run between $250 and $800, depending on the extent of the damage. The bigger the crack, the more the repair is likely to cost. The cost of crack repair also depends on the type of foundation the home has and the material required to fill in the crack.
5. Install a French drain.
A French drain, also known as a drain tile system or a perimeter drain, directs groundwater or excess surface water away from a home. These systems are commonly used to prevent water from accumulating around foundations, basements, and crawl spaces. If there is still water leakage in the basement after you’ve tried easier fixes, it’s worth looking into having a French drain installed.
A French drain consists of a network of perforated pipes, usually made of PVC or corrugated plastic, installed underground to collect water and channel it away from the house. These systems can either be exterior or interior. Exterior French drains are installed in a bed of gravel around the perimeter of the house and then covered with gravel. Interior French drains are installed below the basement slab along the foundation walls and then covered with drainage tiles or poured concrete.
If you’re up for the physical labor and confident in your ability to slope the drain correctly, you may be able to install an exterior French drain yourself. But as an interior French drain usually involves significant construction work, including breaking up the basement slab, it’s a job best left to the pros. Professional installation of an exterior French drain can run between $500 and $10,000, and an interior French drain system may cost between $5,000 and $18,000. Cost varies according to the size and complexity of the project.
6. Add a sump pump to a French drain.
A sump pump is often used in tandem with a French drain to handle excess water in the basement. While the French drain relies on porous materials and gravity to direct water away from the house, a pump will actively move water through the system and can handle large volumes of water, which is especially useful in a leaky basement in heavy rains.
A sump pump is installed at the lowest point of the drainage system, usually submerged in the sump pit, which serves as a collection point for water that has entered the system. The sump pump is typically equipped with a float switch that activates the pump when the water level in the pit reaches a certain height. It’s essential to periodically inspect the sump pump to ensure it’s functioning correctly, especially during heavy rainfall or wet seasons.
Should I Call a Professional to Repair My Leaky Basement?
If the DIY approach—clearing out gutters, extending downspouts, and sealing small cracks—doesn’t fix your leaky basement problem, it’s time to call in a basement waterproofing professional. The pros can pinpoint the problem and choose the best method for keeping water out of your basement. The fix could involve anything from filling large cracks in the foundation to repairing gutters to regrading the property to installing a French drain or a pump system—or it may require a combination of approaches.
As you’d expect, the cost of basement waterproofing varies widely. Factors include the size of the basement, the severity of the problem, the foundation material, the height of the water table in your area, and whether a French drain system is needed (in some markets, an interior French drain can cost close to $20,000). Different solutions have different prices: While sealing the interior walls—a common fix—may cost on average about $3,000, sealing the exterior walls, typically by excavating around the house and installing a membrane, may be more than twice as expensive.
Don’t Forget About Damage Cleanup and Restoration
If you’ve had significant amounts of water in the basement or if the problem has been long-term, damage restoration is critical in preventing mold growth and structural issues. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it can take as little as 24 to 48 hours for mold to start growing after water infiltration has occurred. Mold exposure can cause adverse health effects, especially in people who have weakened immune systems or respiratory problems. Always clean up basement moisture promptly. The fastest way to dry out a wet basement is to mop up or drain the water, then open up windows or use a dehumidifier to dry out the area. Consult with a professional waterproofing company or water damage restoration service to dry out the moisture and repair any damaged flooring, drywall, and other basement surfaces.
Sources: Angi
All You Need to Care for Your Lawn & Garden