How to Keep Water Out of Your Basement
Tips to Help Prevent a Flooded Basement
Although we’re past Spring, rain has pretty much continued to frequent our area. This is great for your yard, but if your basement has the tendency to flood, this is enough to make you shiver. Flooded basements can be costly!
6 Tips to Keep Water Out of Your Basement
1. Check your guttering system
623 gallons of water comes off the average roof in a 1” rainstorm. If your gutters are overflowing or leaking all of the water that runs off your roof will be surrounding your basement! Suppose your gutters are working perfectly…check out your downspouts. If your downspouts drain near your foundation, spotless gutters are futile. Downspouts should drain at least 5 feet from your foundation.
Maybe you’ve already added downspout extensions, but have you checked that they are working properly? Downspout extensions can get disconnected or clogged – a quick check around the house can save you a big headache later.
To learn what an optimal guttering system looks like and why it is vital, read this excellent overview article.
2. Check the slope of the ground
It is important that the ground surrounding your foundation slopes away from the house. The rule of thumb is 2” drop in elevation every foot you move away from your home. You can change the slope by adding dirt around the home, just be careful that the top of the dirt is at least six inches below the sill plate. If the slope cannot be altered, extending the downspout drainage further from the house in an underground drain may help.
3. Examine your shrubbery
Plants need to be at least 12” away from the foundation. Rotten roots often create a route for water to flow toward your foundation.
4. Install a Sump Pump
This is a pump that kicks on when water is entering your basement. It then pumps water outside your home. You can install this yourself, but beware; it involves jackhammering and plumbing knowledge. Hiring a professional to install the sump pump is advised.
If you’ve had a sump pump for a while, check that it is draining properly. After time they can get disconnected unbeknownst to you! The problems with a disconnected sump pump is that the water will be pumped out of the basement and back to the outside of the foundation. The foundation is where the water entered in the first place, creating a vicious cycle.
Still Having Severe Basement Flooding Issues?
1. Install Hydro Clay
This will permanently seal your basement from water. The hydro clay absorbs water and blocks pathways that the water uses to enter your foundation walls. It is used to waterproof tunnels, manholes, backyard ponds, etc.
2. French Drains
A French drain is a plumbing system underneath your basement floor. This is highly involved and should only be done in extreme situations.
Still Unsure? Call an Expert
If you’ve checked everything, but you’re still having problems, it never hurts to call an expert. Many times, the source of water in the basement is from a problem with your gutters. Gutter Cover Kansas City has trained professionals who do a free 21-point inspection to determine why your basement is flooding and how to solve the issue. If they identify that more is involved than a guttering issue or ground sloping, they will point you to an expert that can help.
For more information about the causes of water in the basement, check out this more extensive article.