How to Control Excess Moisture in Your Basement
Having extra moisture in your basement affects not only your basement, but your home's foundation as well. It is important to keep the water and moisture content to a minimum. This will help save your home's foundation from rot and keep away mold, mildew, and insects that tend to be attracted to excess moisture. Here are some easy tips for controlling excess moisture in your basement.
Repair Foundation Cracks
In many cases, you can control excess moisture by preventing it altogether. Water can come from many sources, like gutters and downspouts, rain water on the ground, and poor drainage after watering your lawn. One way to keep all of this water out of the basement is by repairing any foundation cracks you have. Look around the inside and outside of your basement area for signs of cracks or holes, as this is how water can get in. Make sure you fill all cracks and holes with an appropriate product. Crack-filling material is easy to use with detailed instructions.
Move the Downspouts
Another way to reduce the excess moisture in your basement is by moving the downspouts away from your house's foundation. If they are pointing directly downward, the water stays away from your siding, but it can soak the ground and seep into the basement. Even if the water doesn't get inside after you fill the cracks and holes, it could damage the outer surface of your basement. The best thing to do is use downspout extenders to direct water away from the walls of your basement. This will keep the water a little further in your yard where you can have a good drainage system to keep it away from the basement.
Use a Waterproofing Product
Waterproofing inside and outside your basement is also a good idea. This helps to reduce damage to your basement when you can't control the amount of water your basement is exposed to, such as if there is a pipe break in your home that causes a flood in the basement. Masonry waterproofing products are great for basements constructed of concrete or similar materials. Follow the instructions to apply it to your basement walls and flooring. It works just like a sealer, helping to reduce damage from water and moisture.
Install a Sump Pump
Your last option is to have a sump pump installed in the basement. A sump pump will help take excess water, such as from a flood, and distribute it to a basin outside of the basement. This helps reduce overall water damage at keep mold levels down following a flood.
For more help with basement waterproofing, contact a company like FreeFlow Environmental.
