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Solutions to Common Spring Wet Basement Problems

Rising temperatures during spring when snow is deep and the ground is frozen resulting in fast snow melt can create free-flowing water. Snow melt and rain, when the ground is frozen, has nowhere to go, resulting in free-flowing water traveling along a path of least resistance. That path is often around a home's foundation, which can lead to a wet basement water problems. Here are a few common issues in the Spring for basements, and how Waters Basement Services solves these problems.

Roof drainage is a common cause of wet basements. Also, gutter downspouts that discharge water directly at foundation walls frequently cause problems. A typical 2000-square-foot roof can produce almost 1200 gallons of water during just 1 inch of rainfall. Gutters and downspouts need to be free of debris, flow freely, and the downspout gutter drainage needs to empty away from basement foundation.

Waters Basement Services, Inc. installs downspouts gutter drainage into an underground system (Lawn Scape Bubbler Pot). As water fills in the Lawn Scape Bubbler Pot, the holes in the bottom of the pot allow the water to drain onto stone. Drainage slots on top of the bubbler pot let standing water filter down into the ground. For more information on this process, check out our previous blog on protecting your foundation from damage with a lawn scape bubbler pot.

Poor grading is another common problem around foundations. Hydrostatic pressure occurs when negative pitch soil sloping toward your home and water presses against the basement walls, causing the weight against the walls to exceed their capacity. Bowing walls occur most often due to the force of hydrostatic pressure. During the winter months the ground freezes, and the expanding water in the soil will press the soil against basement walls. In the spring and summer months, soil will lose water and shrink. This freezing and thawing causes inward and outward movement on basement walls. Our company can correct negative pitch by installing window wells and re-grading with top soil.

With snow melt and rain of spring, groundwater enters through the walls and floor by wicking action or by hydrostatic pressure when the surrounding soil is saturated or the water table is high. If drain tile or another name French drain becomes clogged with silt or tree roots, it may not allow water to flow into a sump basin and then be pumped out of your basement or flow out into the storm sewers. Drain tile must be free of debris.

One of Waters Basement Services, Inc. services is a drain tile video camera inspection. The camera provides a view of the drain tile (on a small TV screen), locating tree root intrusions, breaks, plugs/blockages or other common problems. A drainage camera is very useful in helping to determine if your drain tile can be cleaned, is plugged, or filled with tree roots and needs to be replaced.

Weather surface water or groundwater can pose a problem with spring snow melt and rain. It can raise water tables causing water to enter basements. A quality sump pump is truly the heart of any water management system. We installs a perforated sump basin to pull any water in the area from underneath the floor to help eliminate hydrostatic pressure build-up. Want to know what sump pumps we recommend? Check out our recent blog on sump pump reviews.

While we all look forward to Spring, the influx of water can pose problems for basements. Drying up your wet basement is the first step toward a clean and healthy basement ready for living, storage and play. Waters Basement Services can help get your basement ready for the new year and turn it into a comfortable room suitable for your home and family.