Columbia, SC, is a hotspot for heavy rainstorms. If you own a home in the area, you’re going to want to do all you can to prevent water from making its way into your home.
Why do basements in this area start to leak? Why is it so important for you to waterproof your home?
Combating seepage is about more than preserving your quality of life. If your home plays host to too much dampness, you can start to see the consequences not only in your home’s value but in your own health. When you act to waterproof your home, you’re doing more than protecting your structural supports. You’re making life more comfortable for you and your family.
How Does Water Get Into Your Basement?
Water can get into your basement in a variety of ways. Some of the most common include:
- Window wells – Basement windows are one of the primary sources of water seepage in your home. Your wells tend to gather water, no matter how heavy or light the rain outside your home is. If the seals around your windows break or falter, you’ll find yourself rapidly dealing with moisture and seepage you can’t control.
- Leaks – If you don’t waterproof your basement, you can readily blame your seepage on a leak. Basement leaks can form as a result of excessive hydrostatic pressure. This pressure generated by water gathering outside of your home will negatively impact the build of your basement and of your foundation. If you don’t act to stabilize your structural supports, they’ll constrict and expand to the point where they may crack. As a result, your basement may start to leak.
- Foundation cracks – As mentioned, hydrostatic pressure can compromise the structural integrity of your foundation. Homes with cracked foundations need to have those cracks treated before they can be adequately waterproofed.
There are other ways moisture can get into your basement. It’s not always easy to tell when your basement is unusually humid. If you suspect your home may be damper than it’s supposed to be, keep an eye out for the following:
- Unpleasant smells
- Mold clusters
- Warping door frames
- Water-damaged belongings
- Uneven floors
What Happens If You Don’t Fix A Leak?
If your water seepage isn’t severe, you may be tempted to leave it until you have the budget or time to better attend to it. Unfortunately, most leaks and foundation damage can significantly worsen if you let them go for an extended period of time. As your basement gets damper, the existing problems therein will worsen. Before long, you may find yourself dealing not only with seepage but with structural problems.
Waterproofing Your Home: Ins and Outs
It’s easier than you might think to prevent water seepage in your home. Most contractors will be able to walk you through a broad catalog of waterproofing measures. Some of the most effective and popular include:
To keep water from getting all over your basement floor and damaging your belongings, you need to first intercept it. A specially designed interior drainage system can be placed throughout your basement’s perimeter and just underneath the floor. It will collect any water from the walls and floor, and then direct this water to a sump pump system.
Sump pumps are among the most comprehensive waterproofing solutions available in the modern home. These pumps gather up the water that sneaks into your basement and is collected by your interior drainage system. These units then pump the water out of and away from your home through discharge lines. These pumps keep water out of your home in the long term, protecting not only your belongings but your structural supports as well.
Dehumidifiers can readily pull the moisture out of the air, protecting your home from mold growth and light water damage. An energy-efficient unit that can self-drain into your interior drainage system or sump pump is your best bet.
Vapor barriers are large plastic-like sheets that are so dense that they’ll not only keep water out of your home but most gases like radon as well.
When you purchase a home, you purchase all of its positive points as well as its problems. Don’t let an unprotected basement get the best of you. Reach out to one of the contractors working in the Columbia, SC, area to see which waterproofing measures may suit your needs best. After an inspection, professional contractors can provide you with a free quote.
