There are a variety of ways property owners in Toronto can waterproof their basements throughout the year. By taking the right precautionary steps, you too can keep water from causing damage and excess moisture from occurring. Whether you have recurring problems, recently had your first incident or have never had one, educating yourself about the methods you can use to keep water from your basement can save you money, time and a headache. One of the top ways to keep water out of your basement is sump pump repair services from Aquatech. Below are even more way to keep your basement dry.
When You See Water, Find the Source Quickly
By locating the source of the problem, you can have the proper solutions applied to fix the issue. There are some cases where cracks and holes need to be sealed and cemented. This is common along the foundation, walls and joint areas. If you’re unable to determine the source and are unable to determine if the water is getting in from the outside or condensation inside, you can try this method: take a 12 sq. inch piece of aluminum foil and tape all four sides to the wall. Make it as airtight as possible. Then when you come back after a few days, if you see moisture on the inside, then seepage is the issue and if it’s wet on the outside, then its condensation.
Make Your Landscape Sloped Away From Your Foundation
Standing water is a top culprit for water getting into basements. When you have a lawn that is flat or is sloped towards your home, it will allow water from rain and melting snow to roll towards your property and cause excess water to stand around the basement, eventually seeping inside through the windows or cracks and holes. You can have your slope made away from your home, which should be at least 10 feet.
Make Sure to Keep Your Gutters and Downspouts Clean
Clogged gutters and downspouts can prevent them from working effectively. By cleaning out debris, such as leaves and branches, you can ensure that the water can flow through them freely. When these are allowed to be filled with debris, it can cause an overflow of water to spill over. To help prevent debris from getting into your downspouts, you can have a basket-shaped wire strainer over the outlet. Screening can also be placed throughout the entire length of your gutter system. To keep an excess of water from forming at the point of discharge, you can use a splash block or concrete gutter to draw water away. You can also have the downspouts extended from the rain gutters to help keep water away from your foundation.
The foundation of your home is a very important part of the structure of your property. Having certain transformations and repairs made to your home or landscape should be done with the assistance of a basement waterproofing specialist.
Knowing a bit about how water enters a basement can be useful for keeping your basement dry. Hopefully, you can use some of these tips to help you achieve this goal.
