Keeping water out of your basement is an essential part of homeownership because a damp one can lead to serious issues, such as water damage and mold.
Between drainage problems, faulty appliance, plumbing failures, flash floods, and more, your home can undergo significant destruction that can cost you thousands of dollars in repairs. The best line of defense? Keeping basement water out.
Learn what you can do to stop water from accumulating in your basement below.
GRADED YARD
Water that pools and sits around the base of your home can cause significant problems. Make sure the ground surrounding your foundation is sloping away, so water is directed from your house to the exterior perimeter of your property. Your yard should slope six inches or more over the first nine or ten feet from your foundation.
EXTEND DOWNSPOUT
Help divert water away from your home’s foundation by extending your downspouts at least five feet away from your house. You can find metal or plastic downspout extenders at most home improvement stores, or you can have an underground extension or drainpipe installed to direct gutter runoff away from your home.
KEEP RAIN GUTTERS FLOWING
Clogged gutters can pose a serious threat to your basement in terms of leaks. Since water cannot freely move away from your house, it will overflow, run down the side of your home (which can also cause water damage), and find its way into your basement. Water pouring directly into your foundation can increase the risk of a basement flood. Avoid this problem by keeping your rain gutters and downspouts free of leaves, twigs, and other debris and by making repairs whenever necessary.
INSTALL FRENCH DRAINS
When water issues are serious, installing a French drain or another curtain drain may be necessary. This system is comprised of a handful of underground pipes that will carry water away from your foundation. These drains help immensely to keep water out of your basement.
CLEAN OUT WINDOW WELLS ANNUALLY
Leaves, trash, branches, nests, and other debris can prevent window wells from properly draining, leading to leaky basement windows. Avoid this issue altogether by cleaning your window wells at least once yearly. Ideally, twice, once in the spring and again in the fall.
SEAL CRACKS AND GAPS
Water can easily creep into your basement through cracks or gaps in your foundation or basement walls. Stop these leaks from occurring by sealing any spaces and holes with polyurethane caulk or hydraulic cement. If water is coming through your basement floor, that is a different story. You will need to look into repairing a groundwater issue.
Contact Rapid Response Restoration
Keeping water out of your basement is imperative to a functional and healthy living space. If you have found water in your Utah County basement, it is crucial to address the issue right away.
Contact the experts at Rapid Response Restoration. Our skilled technicians will clean up, repair, and restore the damages caused by water and flooding in a quick and timely manner. For all of your water damage, flood, and mold remediation needs, contact our skilled professionals 24/7 to get your free assessment. We serve Orem, Provo, and all neighboring cities.
