A wet basement can be a nightmare or just a nuisance. Every year, thousands of homeowners face the unfriendly side effects of occasional rainfall. The types of problems they can face range from just dampness to even flooding. A leaky basement in Toronto is a serious issue that can destroy personal properties, appliances, furnishings and sometimes cause permanent structural damage to homes’ foundations. In addition, excessive moisture is a big attraction to wood-eating insects, decay and wood rot.
Despite the ripeness of the problem, few homeowners are aware of the causes of water leakage.
Common causes of a wet basement
With wet basements, discovering where the water is coming from is the first and most crucial step. If it a minor or reoccurring problem that will be expensive to fix, such as subsurface groundwater pressure, you can keep your walls and flooring through preventive steps like placing professional-grade water-absorbing socks or mats in problem areas.
One common cause of a leaky basement is improper surface drainage, such as a sloped yard in the house. In some cases, the problem can be significantly eased by re-grading the yard to slope away from the house’s foundation or diverting surface water around the house.
Other common felons include poorly positioned rain gutter downspouts, leaking, missing or clogged rain gutters. A downspout incorrectly set to drain against the side of the house permits water to build up beside the foundation wall until the backed-up “reservoir” locates a weak spot in the foundation wall. Ensure that your gutter is regularly cleaned to get rid of leaves and small twigs. Aim the gutter downspouts away from your home and pitch them in a direction that will prevent water from seeping into the basement.
The most challenging cause of a leaky basement is a high water table. A high water table water problem happens when the home is built too deeply in the floor, into the level where water remains constant throughout the year. Water levels can also cause this problem by underground springs or sustained rainfall periods that allow the water table to rise during the wet or rainy seasons.
How I can know if it is leakage or condensation
You can know if your problem is water leaking in or simply condensation forming on the cool surfaces. Condensation occurs when humid, warm air comes in contact with cooler basement walls, water pipes, floors, etc.
For instance, take a cold bottle of soda out of your fridge or refrigerator and place it on the counter. After some minutes, you will notice steam forming on the outside of the soda bottle. As time goes by, you will see a small puddle of water forming at the bottom of the soda bottle as the beads of moisture start dripping down. These beads of moisture are an excellent illustration of condensation and not leakage. If you have a leaky basement, the water will not just appear. Instead, you will be able to see where the water is coming from as it leaks in the form of a puddle of water or stream.
Here are some helpful tips
Your rain gutter should be cleaned of debris or leaves at least once per year. The gutter downspouts should direct water runoff from the roof to a discharge point at least large feet away from the house foundation. Make use of a splash block at the end of your downspout to avoid soil erosion. Please do not attempt to bury downspout lines, except you can empty them to daylight.
Get an excellent dehumidifier to reduce the natural humidity level in your basement. First, ensure your dehumidifier is appropriately fitted in your basement. Next, request a drain hose attachment that is correctly provided, so you do not have to empty the water collected every day. Finally, get a unit with a built-in de-icer. A dehumidifier is refrigeration coils and can freeze and stop working.
Make sure the windows and doors to your basement remain closed year-round. Open windows and doors allow extra humidity to enter your basement, which causes condensation. As a result, your dehumidifier will also run less.
Check around and study the paved areas around your house to see if they have sloping or settled towards your house, as this can sometimes be the cause of wet basement Toronto. Make sure that slopes around your home should be graded away.
Waterproofing Paints and Sealers
There are different suitable waterproofing paints and sealers in the market today. Waterproof sealers and stains can work well for minor dampness on floors and walls. However, give special attention to the preparation instructions from the product’s manufacturer. Also, bear in mind that interior waterproof sealers and paints do not anything to alleviate the “source” of the problem.
Is it time for a professional?
Aquatech basement waterproofing Toronto will offer you several solutions, depending on the source of your problem. Some of these methods include installing drain tile, outside excavation, interior drainage systems or epoxy cove systems, etc.
In summary, Prevention is the safest and best approach to take. First, closely examine the grading around your property and ensure that your rain gutters are in good working order. Then, get a good-quality dehumidifier to reduce humidity in your basement.
If you have tried your best to correct your problem and find out that the basement still leaks, it is best to bring a specialist.
