“Even the best prepared homes can experience water and the damage it can cause,” says Jim Hedrick, Owner of Badger Basement Systems. “Although newer homes, probably 95% of them, have sump pumps installed because building codes require them, things can go wrong, even with the best planning.” Time and natural processes eventually catch up with homes built before sump pumps were required. Over time,waterproofing does get old or saturated and water can seep through your foundation.
Grading can change over time affecting the dampness in your basement.
House Age 3 Months House Age 7 Years
If you do find a small amount of water in your basement, do the following before calling on a professional for help:
♦If you have a sump pump, Check to be sure it is running (be sure it’s plugged in).
♦Make sure the grade of the yard angles away from your home, leading the water away. Standing water near your foundation is often an indication of water troubles in your basement.
♦Check your gutters and downspouts. If they are clogged for some reason and not diverting water away from your home, they could be contributing to, or even causing a water problem in your basement. If you find all of these items working properly and still find water or dampness, call a professional to help you with a prevention strategy.
Even If Your Basement is Dry
Even if you have never had standing water in your basement, it doesn’t mean you are free from water in your future, according to Hedrick. There are early warning signs that indicate you should do something sooner rather than later.
The early warning signs include:
■ Relative humidity above 50% in your basement (simple gauges can be purchased at Badger Basement Systems, Menards, Office Depot, Etc).
■ A sign of dampness such as a white fuzzy substance (efflorescence) on your foundation blocks illustrates water is pushing through your concrete, leaving salt deposits as it progresses and saturates.
■ Hairline cracks appear in your walls or bowing or bulging occurs. These may be due to increased pressure from water in the adjacent soil.
■ Your concrete block shows dark or black stains. This illustrates dampness has made it through, but has dried, leaving the stain behind.
“Water is the most unrelenting substance on earth. Eventually it will affect any basement it comes in contact with. Our goal is to effectively manage the water, thereby protecting our customers’ homes. We’ve been very fortunate in that we have solved many water problems for our customers.”
“My best advice to anyone concerned about, or having a water issue, is to get help to assess the problem. There are a variety of factors that can contribute to a water problem and each solution is usually a unique combination of actions.” Jim Hedrick, Owner of Badger Basement Systems.
