Basement Waterproofing

As more and more families use their basements for family rooms, media rooms, offices, and even extra bedrooms, it becomes more important to keep this space dry. Ideally, a basement will have a variety of safeguards in place.

• Drain tile will have been installed to collect groundwater and direct it to a sump pit where it can be pumped away from the house via a sump pump
• The landscape will be graded away from the foundation sloping down toward a storm sewer or a swale which directs the water away from the house
• Gutters will collect rainwater, and downspouts will empty the water to a minimum of six feet from the foundation (the further the better)
• A waterproof barrier will have been installed around the outside perimeter of the foundation

If any of these basement waterproofing systems are missing or compromised, water may collect around the house and seep through the foundation or floor. The cause of a wet basement may be hard to diagnose and costly to fix, but before you call a basement waterproofing expert, here are a few simple things to try.

• Check your sump pump and check valve operation by pouring water into the sump pit; be sure it is actually pumped outside
• Make sure your gutters and downspouts are free of debris
• Check the slope of your lot during the next rainstorm; the house may have settled and the land may need to be re-graded away from the foundation

Want extra protection and peace of mind?
Install a backup sump pump in your sump pit so you are protected during a power outage, in times of excessive rain, or in the event your main sump pump fails. Basement Watchdog provides a complete line of reliable battery backup sump pump products. Click here for more information.