Why basements leak

A house built in the 1970s or earlier is likely to have only minimal water protection around the foundation. Here in Victoria, we have many homes built with substandard systems, i.e. clay & cement tiles as well as perforated “BIG O” pipe. These drainage tile systems are inadequate to have our roof water systems hooked directly into them. Clay & cement tiles break down over the years from neglect of regular maintenance and the fact that there is only a one pipe system trying to take the roof water & ground table water at the same time. These pipes get clogged from roof debris, leaves, needles, roots & sediments from floor drains without proper catches.

Construction techniques have improved over the years, so that today’s new homes are more resistant to water, but wet basements are still a big problem. As homes age, wall coatings fail and waterproofing systems break down. Even well-designed systems can ultimately fail. Therefore, most houses eventually have wet basement problems.
Wet basement problems can range from mildly annoying to catastrophic, depending on the flow of water and how “finished” your basement is. Regardless of the severity, the problem will only get worse: A wet basement is something that should be addresses promptly by a Certified Waterproofing specialist.

The “Clay Bowl” Concept

When your home was built, a hole was excavated into very hard, virgin soil to accommodate the basement. The ground never “forgets” this hole, thus whenever the ground becomes saturated, water will always seek to fill in this hole. This water creates pressure around your walls and floor that allows for seepage opportunities at any cracks or joints. Note, this water pressure will occur during prolonged heavy rains despite your best efforts to keep ground water away from your home. That is why extending downspouts, building up the grade, caulking driveway cracks, and even adding room addition slabs may mitigate the amount of seepage you receive, but won’t solve the problem.

Leaking Basement Due To Hydrostatic Pressure

Rainwater seeps into the soil and builds up pressure against your foundation walls. This “hydrostatic pressure” can exert tons of force causes leaking.

Also contributing are the following:

  • Blocked drainage at the downspout (RWL, Roof water leader) of the home’s exterior wall.
  • Defective or missing footing drainage system
  • Inadequately draining backfill around basement
  • Leakage through cracks in walls/floor slab
  • Improperly drained window wells
  • Flooding of nearby stream or drainage swale
  • High water table

In most homes with wet basements, the walls are leaking or the floor is leaking. One reason homeowners hesitate to address the problem is that there is too much conflicting advice. We understand this and our mandate is to educate the homeowner enabling them to make a confident and informed choice. DRAINSCOPE has a variety of solutions backed by years of sound research and experience that can address your wet basement problem.
Downside:

*Re-Sale Value of Home Diminished

A wet cellar can dramatically reduce the value of your home. Studies show that most people won’t even consider buying a home with water leakage. Selling a home with water leaks can easily result in as much as a 25% reduction in the sale price.

*Electrical Hazards

Water leakage can be dangerous. Water is a conductor of electricity. Moist, saturated carpeting or flooring combined with damp electrical circuits can be a dangerous formula. Moisture can also increase the risk of electrical arcing. Shock, electrocution and fire hazard can all result from a wet basement.

*Wood Rot and Property Damage

A wet, damp, leaky basement is the ideal environment for wood rot and property damage. Problems can be greatly aggravated by damp conditions in the basement.

Don’t wait until its’s too late! Call DrainScope to Inspect & Clean your Perimeter & Sewer systems Today.

call today 250.590.1535

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