Effective Solutions for a Healthy and Dry Basement

Water seeping into your basement can cause serious damage to your home, causing disasters that cost hefty sums. When your basement is at risk of damage, it can be prevented with the right materials in place. Basement waterproofing is a method that starts from the footing up and can save extensively on the foundation repair cost of your home. If you want to protect your home’s foundation, here are some effective solutions to keep your basement dry and healthy.

The Main Causes Behind Damp Basements

If your home currently has a wet, damp floor, you need to identify the source of the moisture. Locating the source will allow you to take more effective measures to solve the problem quickly. 

Basement waterproofing begins by looking at the various sources of potential damage, with some of the most common causes being: 

Internal Condensation:

• Humidifiers, clothes dryers, and even water pipes for showering and cooking can generate moisture inside your basement. Your basement needs a proper air conditioning system or heat exchanger to protect it against moisture and water buildup.  

Rain and Groundwater Runoff:

• Rain and snow melt not properly directed away from the home’s foundation can cause basement moisture. Without proper gutters, grading, and downspouts, the runoff can seep through the topsoil and create pressure along the walls, causing cracks and gaps. 

Capillary Suction:

• When the foundation isn’t set properly in the soil, water drawn through the concrete footing and slabs can lead to dampness. It’s common in the foundation’s cold joints and occurs as the soil becomes saturated with water during rainy and snow-covered days. 

Air Leakage:

• As warm air rises, it creates negative pressure in the basement. This pressure draws moist air through any cracks or openings in the foundation. If the foundation isn’t airtight, moisture can enter and cause damage gradually, leading to expensive repair costs.

Vapour Diffusion:

• Vapour diffusion operates through capillary suction. Depending on the foundation’s materials and the surrounding soil, the vapour can diffuse and enter the basement interior. Humid and warm outdoor conditions also cause this, leading to condensation and dampness. This is prevalent in the Ottawa Valley with humid summers commonplace.

These tips can help you control and manage basement moisture and apply it to any home. If there are any problems with the foundation, the natural movements of air and water can easily enter your basement and make it prone to damage. Once the damage is present, it can be extremely stressful and time consuming to figure out the true foundation repair cost.

Immediate, Effective Solutions For Signs of Damage

Before contacting a professional, try these easy solutions for moisture control and it’ll help save you time and money. If you can’t afford a professional right away the goal is to remove as much internal moisture as possible.

Increase Air Circulation

Increasing the air circulation in your basement can help dry out a damp basement. Adding fans to move air around the space can also help dry out damp areas and reduce overall damage. 

Remove Any Sitting Water

If sitting water is found, it needs to be removed immediately. If you have sitting water, use your home wet/dry vacuum or a submersible pump to remove it. Towels and mops can be used to soak up any leftover moisture.

Reduce Indoor Humidity

Lastly, removing humidity from your basement can prevent moisture from causing mold and mildew. Set up heavy-duty dehumidifiers, hygrometers, and heaters to track humidity levels and control them. These devices allow you to keep track of moisture no matter the season and reduce condensation. 
While these short-term strategies may help in immediate situations, your next step is to create a long-term plan that keeps water at bay. The most effective solution, especially when considering the foundation repair cost for your basement, is basement waterproofing.

How Basement Waterproofing Keeps Your Basement Dry

Basement waterproofing removes and prevents water from entering your basement through professional techniques. As both a preventative and reactive measure, basement waterproofing tackles every mechanical cause of moisture entering your home and either removes or redirects it from your home. 

These techniques will depend on the cause of your problem but overall provide viable ways to reduce the risk of damage. Some preventative measures that are used in basement waterproofing include:

• French Drains
• Gutters and Downspouts
• Foundation Repairs
• Soil Gradation
• Damp Proofing
• Foundation Paint
• Vapor Barriers

Reactive measures can be combined to remove emergency moisture. These reactive measures include:

• Sump Pumps
• Basement Floor Drains
• Dehumidifiers

Basement waterproofing is often necessary in any home construction project to keep the underside home dry and healthy. It keeps your basement dry, reduces the risk of mold and rot, and makes it a safe, viable room. Basement waterproofing takes years of experience and knowledge to fix correctly. The right basement waterproofing techniques will depend on your underlying problem; only professionals like ours can help.  

Protect Your Basement With The Foundation Experts!

At the Foundation Experts, our team of contractors has provided top-of-the-line home improvement services for over 20 years. Through our experts, we offer basement waterproofing and construction services to reduce the foundation repair cost of your project. Our teams work within your budget to keep your basement healthy and dry for years. Protect your home with basement waterproofing and call 613-227-2006 to receive Ottawa’s best home construction and repair services.