What Causes Basements to Leak

 If you are experiencing a leaky basement, it is first important to know the cause of the leak before you can fix it.  Basement leaks are a common problem for home owners costing thousands of dollars in damages and repair fees and giving rise to dangerous molds and funguses.  If you are experiencing a water logged basement or would like to prevent basement leaks, here is some information on what causes basement leaks.

 
Basement leaks don’t have to be routine.  Many people no longer use their basements for storage, but instead for their home office or children’s playroom.  A leaky basement can be extremely detrimental.  There are many factors that cause a basement to leak from hydrostatic forces, to capillaries to poor landscaping and drainage. 

One of the major causes of basement leaks is due to hydrostatic forces.  Hydrostatic forces occur when water from rain and snow in the ground surround the basement.  The water level rises and falls putting tremendous pressure and force on concrete floors.  Concrete is porous by nature and water forces its way through the concrete up through the floor.

Capillary action is another major way for water to seep through walls and seams of basements.  Capillary action is when water seeps through the walls and seams of a foundation via small crevices in the concrete.  Some foundation walls are hollow and allow water to build up easily inside adding to the ease in which seepage might occur.

Another major way that water causes basement leaks is through weaknesses in drainage and landscaping.  Many people don’t realize that the way they care for their surrounding property can have an impact on their basement to leak. 

For instance, if you have a gutter or drainage near the home, make sure that the water is being removed properly and not just sitting in puddles near the foundation. You can also do some easy landscaping to create downward slopes, gently removing water away from your home and basement.  These are some of the easiest problems to fix.  Landscaping and external drainage problems can be fixed quickly and usually inexpensively without the need to excavate or dig holes in your basement.

Lastly, one of the reasons for a leaky basement is inferior workmanship on creating a basement foundation.  Once a home is built, you usually can’t do anything about a foundation, less than a complete overhaul.  However, if you are building a home, make sure that your contractor checks the foundation for cracks, defects or inferior workmanship.  This step alone can save you countless problems and headaches in the future.