The Most Common Causes of a Wet Basement/Crawl Space
Having moisture penetrate into your basement or crawl space is absolutely one of the worst things that homeowners have to deal with. The first thing you will notice is the disgusting smell, but that is the least of your worries when it comes to having a wet basement or crawl space. When moisture gets into your home, it can cause a number of very serious issues. For example, moisture leads to mold growth, and extended exposure to mold growth is dangerous. Moisture can also cause structural damage to your home and attract pests. If you are affected by a basement or crawl space leak, you may be wondering what the potential causes are. With that in mind, here are some of the more common causes of wet basements and crawl spaces.
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Mildewed walls with different sorts of mold (close-up shot)[/caption]
Flash flooding
If you live in an area with heavy rainfall or that is prone to flooding, then it is possible that this is the cause of your wet basement or crawl space. See, normally water gets absorbed into the ground, which prevents flooding. But, in times of heavy rainfall or flash flooding, the ground can’t really absorb all that excess water. The excess water causes the groundwater levels to rise, which then seeps into the lower parts of your home.
Erosion
People design homes so that water is carried away from the foundation of the house, rather than towards it. However, the erosion of the soil around your home can change the land’s grading. This results in water being dumped around the foundation of your house whenever it rains. Once that happens, it’s only a matter of time before some moisture manages to get into your basement or crawl space.
Broken or damaged pipes
One of the more common causes of wet basements is the presence of broken or damaged pipes. Every home has pipes running all through the walls. Occasionally they can get damaged or they can burst. When this happens, water can leak into unexpected places, including basements and crawl spaces.
Defective gutters
Another common cause of moisture in basements and crawl spaces is defective gutters. If the person who installs the gutters doesn’t install them correctly, they can end up having their downspout placed near the home’s foundation. This means that whenever it rains, the gutters will deposit the water directly near the foundation, where the water can easily end up leaking into a basement or crawl space.
Cracked foundations
A cracked foundation is a major headache for a couple of reasons; not least, the fact that it can cause major structural damage to your house. It is also possible that a cracked or otherwise damaged foundation is the source of your wet basement or crawl space. If you are unlucky enough to be affected by a cracked foundation, then you need to get it fixed right away. Ameri-Dry provides quick and effective foundation repair services.
There is a solution
If you want to avoid having to deal with the issues associated with a wet basement or crawl space, then you need to take advantage of Ameri-Dry’s patented subfloor and sealing system. These two systems protect your basement and crawl space from excessive moisture. You never have to worry about mold or structural damage in your basement again.
Mildewed walls with different sorts of mold (close-up shot)[/caption]
Flash flooding
If you live in an area with heavy rainfall or that is prone to flooding, then it is possible that this is the cause of your wet basement or crawl space. See, normally water gets absorbed into the ground, which prevents flooding. But, in times of heavy rainfall or flash flooding, the ground can’t really absorb all that excess water. The excess water causes the groundwater levels to rise, which then seeps into the lower parts of your home.
Erosion
People design homes so that water is carried away from the foundation of the house, rather than towards it. However, the erosion of the soil around your home can change the land’s grading. This results in water being dumped around the foundation of your house whenever it rains. Once that happens, it’s only a matter of time before some moisture manages to get into your basement or crawl space.
Broken or damaged pipes
One of the more common causes of wet basements is the presence of broken or damaged pipes. Every home has pipes running all through the walls. Occasionally they can get damaged or they can burst. When this happens, water can leak into unexpected places, including basements and crawl spaces.
Defective gutters
Another common cause of moisture in basements and crawl spaces is defective gutters. If the person who installs the gutters doesn’t install them correctly, they can end up having their downspout placed near the home’s foundation. This means that whenever it rains, the gutters will deposit the water directly near the foundation, where the water can easily end up leaking into a basement or crawl space.
Cracked foundations
A cracked foundation is a major headache for a couple of reasons; not least, the fact that it can cause major structural damage to your house. It is also possible that a cracked or otherwise damaged foundation is the source of your wet basement or crawl space. If you are unlucky enough to be affected by a cracked foundation, then you need to get it fixed right away. Ameri-Dry provides quick and effective foundation repair services.
There is a solution
If you want to avoid having to deal with the issues associated with a wet basement or crawl space, then you need to take advantage of Ameri-Dry’s patented subfloor and sealing system. These two systems protect your basement and crawl space from excessive moisture. You never have to worry about mold or structural damage in your basement again.