Basement Waterproofing Problem Signs
If you have musty smells, walls that feel damp, or if your basement floods with heavy rain, we can help. Not sure what’s causing your home’s wet basement? Let one of our experts take a look.
Ohio Basement Authority
Flooded Basement
Basement flooding is the last thing homeowners want to experience. Find out about the various types of flooding and if your basement is at risk.
Ohio Basement Authority
Basement Wall Leaks
A leak in your basement wall can seem insignificant at first. As the damage worsens or the rains start pouring in, you may find yourself contending with a serious problem.
Ohio Basement Authority
Cracked Concrete In Your Basement Floor
One of the more perplexing issues that homeowners face with their wet basement is the challenge of stopping water from rising up through their basement floor.
Ohio Basement Authority
Leaking Windows
One of the most common ways that water floods into a below-grade space is through your basement windows
Even though homes with basements are prevalent throughout Central and Southern Ohio, they come with their share of problems. Basements can easily leak and sustain water damage, especially with the area’s problematic silt and clay soil and frequent precipitation. If you have a wet, damp, moldy basement, Ohio Basement Authority has you covered! We’ve got the right people and the right solutions to restore your home’s health, safety, and value. Our team has extensive knowledge, training, and experience, and we install the very best permanent solutions to rid your home of wet basement conditions. Ohio Basement Authority is proud to serve the Central and Southern Ohio areas, Including Columbus, Cincinnati, Richwood, Hilliard, Defiance and Scioto County.
What Causes a Wet Basement?
Walking down to your basement and discovering moisture, dampness, water, and mold can be scary. These are serious issues that call for effective and long-lasting solutions. Ohio Basement Authority has you covered!
Excavated soil that is replaced around a completed foundation isn’t as dense and tightly packed as undisturbed soil farther away. As a result, water collects in the soil immediately surrounding the house, putting pressure on foundation walls and causing cracks.
A sizeable hole was dug in the ground when your home was built. The foundation was then poured, which left a gap between the foundation walls and the existing earth. This gap was filled with soil that was removed and “fluffed up.” This soil is looser, more aerated than the surrounding soil, which may have been compressing for hundreds of years. Thus, the looser soil tends to absorb more water than the compacted soil. More water against the walls leads to hydrostatic pressure.
The type of soil around your home is another factor affecting your house. Ohio is rich with clay soil, which expands and shrinks in volume dramatically with moisture changes. Clay soil absorbs and holds onto water more so than sandy soil.
As soil around your foundation becomes soaked with moisture, it expands and puts pressure on your foundation. Hydrostatic pressure is the constant force of water pressure on the foundation walls. When this force becomes more than the walls can handle, the walls will begin to crack and bow inwards.
This affects the structural integrity of the walls. Water also will then work its way through any opening available, including cracks and openings around pipes or windows.
Water sitting behind foundation walls will find and fill invisible openings in the surface of the porous concrete it touches. This contributes to capillary action, creating a series of tiny veins that will seep on the other side.
Sump pumps are essential in keeping water out of basements. Think of a basement waterproofing system as the body’s circulatory system; a properly functioning sump pump is the heart of the system. Older, failing sump pumps will only allow water to continue to collect in the basement.
The most common sump pump systems are installed in metal basins in the floor with lids that rest on top of the basin and have openings for the discharge pipes. Some may not have lids at all. These are ineffective systems that will only cause more problems. The metal basins can easily rust and corrode, and partial or nonexistent lids allow water to evaporate back into the basement. This results in unpleasant odors and moisture issues that defeat the purpose of the sump pump in the first place. Objects and debris also can easily fall into the system and damage the pump if the sump pit is not completely covered.
Clogged or above-ground exterior drainage pipes could allow water to puddle next to the home and find its way inside any crack or gap in porous block foundation walls. Above-ground downspout conductor lines are unsightly tripping and safety hazards. Burying these lines under the ground and directing them far away from your home is the best way to keep water from downspout conductor lines out of the house.
You also need to think about the condition of this buried drainage system. These pipes fail to do their job if they crack or collapse, and you could end up with puddles of water in your basement. Older clay pipes commonly split, break, or crack.
Some traditional downspout conductor lines buried underground have no outlet for drainage. Since they are sitting in the ground, they could become clogged with dirt and other debris. This could lead to a back-up or overflow of water that will cause additional headaches.
Basement Waterproofing Solutions
Your home is your most valuable asset, and it’s critical to protect it with trusted repairs. All our permanent basement waterproofing solutions are engineered in-house and are fully customizable to meet your home’s specific requirements. From interior drainage and sump pumps to vapor barriers and dehumidifiers, we have what your home needs to stay dry for good.
Ohio Basement Authority
SafeDri™ Sump Pump
With hundreds of sump pumps available, we stand by the quality and reliability of SafeDri™ Sump Pumps.
Ohio Basement Authority
Below Floor Drain
The BasementGutter™ System is an award-winning, patented below-floor drain that rests in a bed of drainage stone on top of the foundation footing.
Ohio Basement Authority
Egress Window Repair
Building codes require finished basements to have an emergency egress window, or a window installed with a well that includes steps large enough to exit through.
Ohio Basement Authority
Energy-Efficient Basement Dehumidifiers
Each dehumidifier installs with a powerful blowing motor that circulates dry air throughout the space, aggressively drying out your basement or crawl space.
Is Basement Waterproofing the Right Solution for Me?
While basement waterproofing may not be as exciting as renovating other rooms for your dream space, it is extremely important to address, nonetheless. The condition of your basement has a lot of sway over other areas of your home. If you have a basement leak, mold, or musty odors originating from this area, the health and safety of the rest of your home, as well as your family, is impacted.
Don’t let water damage your home, possessions, or your loved ones’ health. Make the call today to take back your home with the help of your local waterproofing experts at Ohio Basement Authority. We have the experience and the best solutions to keep your basement dry for good.
Our approach to basement waterproofing involves intercepting leaking water and redirecting it away from your home. We install an interior drainage system just under the basement floor to catch water that leaks through the walls, floor, and cove joint. This water is channeled to a sump pump where it is pumped out of the basement and away from the foundation through discharge pipes. An anti-freeze exterior discharge line attachment can be installed to keep water draining even if the pipes freeze or become blocked. Additionally, a thick vapor barrier can be placed on the walls and an energy-efficient, self-draining dehumidifier can be installed to help control moisture and humidity in the basement.
FAQs
Every home is unique, and each project calls for different solutions. We can customize solutions specific to your repair needs. Your inspector will take into consideration your repair goals, the severity of damage or problem areas, square footage, and your budget. It’s not just a “one size fits all” fix. So, what works for your neighbor down the street may not necessarily be what your home needs.
Contacting us for an expert opinion is your best bet. We will not try to throw Band-Aids on the problems, push you to buy “everything but the kitchen sink,” or offer sub-standard quick fixes.
Here are some telltale signs of basement problems that are not mended by a do it yourself fix. You should instead seek reliable advice if you notice:
- Any kind of water seepage on basement walls and/or floor
- Bulging foundation walls
- Failing or inefficient sump pump system
- Lack of efficient interior and exterior drainage
Along with top-notch solutions installed by a reliable team when you choose to work with us, what you are really paying for is peace of mind and a safer home.
Not only will this benefit you during the time you live in the house, but it will have a lasting impact for the future resale of the house. You are investing in the health and wellness of the structure.
When having your home inspected for real estate transactions, even partial fixes or temporary bandages could raise a red flag along with water or structural damage. You’ll have to spend more time and money trying to address the issues, so why not make an educated decision and sound investment with us and our trustworthy repair solutions?
While we can’t control the weather or the soil outside your home, we can control what’s inside your house. That’s why the best waterproofing system involves interior drainage.
Our waterproofing system has three parts. To fix the issue with leaking or standing water, we need to catch the water, get the water to a sump pump, and send the water away from the home.
When we waterproof a basement, we drill “weep holes” into the bottom courses of the block walls (which does not affect their structural integrity) to relieve the pressure and water that may be build up inside. This water is intercepted by the BasementGutter™ system, which then directs the water to one of our trustworthy sump pump systems. The sump pump then pumps the water out of and away from the home through discharge lines. These lines can be directed to drain far away from the house, as well as out to the street.
Our patented, top-quality solutions are tested and proven to work to keep water out of your home for a safer living environment.
Cheaper, quick fixes like paints and wall coatings are only temporary bandages that will not address or tackle the root of the problem. Yes, you can apply a special sealant to your walls and floor, but it will pop and flake indicating a lingering moisture problem. Water also follows the path of least resistance. If it cannot enter through one location, it will find another way in.
So, don’t waste your time and money on fast fixes. You need our quality permanent solutions. We use reliable, custom equipment and state-of-the-art technology to install these various systems.
Contact us! We will be happy to schedule an appointment for you with one of our highly trained inspectors. Inspections are free and no obligation to you, and our specialist will complete a thorough evaluation of your home. We also are proud to work with realtors, commercial property owners, and other various affiliates.
If you are concerned with repair needs and insurance coverage, be sure to check with your insurance carrier, as all policies are different.
Here are some helpful tips for selecting a reputable contractor, courtesy of Today’s Homeowner. We are proud to meet and exceed expectations on these points:
- No Contract Labor: Make sure the people performing the repairs work for the company.
- Financial Commitment: Does the contractor own or rent his equipment?
- Supervisors on Site: Is the company large enough to provide full-time supervision, or will the crew be dropped off at your home to do the work?
- References: Make sure references are not hand-picked.
- Warranties: Warranties are only as good as the company that offers them. A reputable company that has been in business for at least 25 years should be your best bet.
- Insurance: Ask for current insurance certificates.
Water intrusion and damage can be detrimental to your home for a variety of reasons. Along with ruining any stored belongings, leaking water can lead to mold growth and unpleasant odors, and even result in flooding conditions.
These issues also result in unhealthy conditions that affect the rest of your home. Because of the stack effect, air circulates through your home from top to bottom, like a chimney. So, whatever is in your basement and/or crawl space (mold, moisture, odors) is in the rest of your house.
While building code calls for vented crawl spaces for air drying purposes, this is harmful to the home. Hot and humid air enters the crawl space during the summer, which contributes to high levels of moisture and humidity in the crawl space and home. This can lead to sagging, soft, buckling floors above, and result in problems to hardwood floors. Similarly, cold air is vented during the winter, making the above floors feel chilly and overtaxing your furnace. (Additional resource: Liabilities of Vented Crawl Spaces, Their Impacts on Indoor Air Quality in Southeastern U.S. Homes and One Intervention Strategy)
Leaking water also affects your home’s structural integrity. If you have block foundation walls, water can easily saturate and seep through the porous material and find its way inside through any crack or gap. If water has nowhere to go, it starts building up inside the walls. Coupled with hydrostatic pressure, this results in an unsafe mess for your foundation walls and basement floor.
Your home is a significant investment, and it is important to ensure its health and safety today and for the future. The longer you neglect these issues, the more costly future repairs will be. A wet, nasty basement also affects the value of and ability to sell a home.
Angie’s List estimates the return on investment from basement waterproofing to be around 30 percent. But the health and structural benefits, not to mention peace of mind, are priceless.
Various factors impact your home’s appraisal value, but structural integrity and any water problems are important areas you need to be aware of. When selling your house, it is important to disclose any past or current damage. Ohio homeowners must complete the Residential Property Disclosure Form, and some items on the checklist are structural problems, settling, moisture and water problems, and flooding. (
Source: Nolo)
There are many things that you can do to mitigate or remove a musty or unpleasant smell in your home, of course, but the methods which are most effective depend on the situation in which you have found yourself.
Repair All Damage
The first step in removing any smell from your home is repairing the damage that has allowed moisture, humidity, and pests to enter your home. This means lifting and leveling any sunken concrete slabs, reinforcing bowing walls, repairing damaged pipes, and resealing basement windows or crawl space vents and doors. This will give you a clean slate from which to work.
By preventing water and moisture from getting into your home and repairing the damage that has been done to your property as a whole, you will cut off the source of the smell. This work is key to ensuring that the results you get from cleaning up the pests, mold, or growths which are causing the smell are permanent. After all, you don’t want the smell to come back!
Remove Pests and Moisture
Once the structure of your property has been repaired and the integrity of your plumbing system has been assured, it will be possible to take appropriate measures to remove the mold, fungal growths, or pests which have created the bad smell in your home. Depending on the nature of the problem this can be a fairly lengthy process.
Pest removal, chemical removal of mold, and dehumidification may all be needed, alongside a deep clean, depending on the nature of the damage in your home. This is why it is important to talk to a professional about the smell of your property and what you can do about it. Experts have all the information and tools they need to return your home to full health.
Why Basement Waterproofing is Needed
While homes have some type of water management in place, not all were built with complete, quality waterproofing systems to protect them. Older materials also can break down and fail over time. Here are some other common reasons why waterproofing your basement is necessary.
Foundation Cracks and Damage
The silty loam soils throughout Columbus, Cincinnati, and surrounding areas can cause problems for homes by expanding when wet and creating hydrostatic pressure. This can lead to cracking walls, foundation damage, and leaks, which also turn into a vicious cycle. Addressing any structural damage before implementing waterproofing measures is critical.
Mold Growth
Mold can be hazardous to the health of anyone in your home, particularly anyone with existing asthma, allergies, or breathing problems. Your basement could be a breeding ground for mold under the right conditions. All mold needs to grow, thrive, and spread is a dark, damp area and organic material, all of which can be found in your basement. Quality waterproofing systems and dehumidification go a long way in preventing mold from taking hold in the first place.
Home Value
Today’s real estate market is fast-paced and competitive, and many home buyers are looking for houses with few to no improvement projects. If your basement is wet, moldy, damp, has musty odors, or has sustained other damage, this negatively impacts your home’s value and its ability to sell. But by maintaining your home and properly waterproofing the basement, you can uphold and even increase your property’s resale value.
Common Basement Waterproofing Tips & Mistakes
Throughout our years of industry experience, we have heard and seen it all when it comes to basement waterproofing. We want to educate and empower homeowners like you to make the best decision for their homes.
Helpful Basement Waterproofing Tips:
- Maintain Exterior Drainage Systems: Our waterproofing system includes interior basement installations, but that’s not where waterproofing stops. It’s important to keep an eye on your home’s exterior systems including the gutters and downspouts. An inspection and clean-out twice a year help keep these exterior systems in working order. Make sure they are clear of any debris and clogs, and that downspout extensions and surrounding landscape is angled down and away from the house.
- Invest in a Battery Backup Sump Pump: Central and Southern Ohio locations including Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton, and Lima, experience frequent rain throughout the year and often severe storms that can knock out power. This can leave you without a functioning waterproofing system, as most sump pumps run off electricity. But with a reliable backup battery, your sump pump will keep working to keep your basement dry for hours even when the power goes out.
- Dehumidification is Key: Even with an interior drainage system and a sump pump, your basement could still have high humidity that could contribute to mold growth. Along with a vapor barrier on the walls to help prevent moisture and vapor intrusion, a quality dehumidifier is a sound investment. Our units are self-draining and powerful yet energy-efficient and can handle excessive moisture in large basement spaces.
Basement Waterproofing Mistakes to Avoid:
- Accepting the “Normalcy” of Basement Water and Smells: Leaking, wet, smelly basements are all too common, and many homeowners believe that is the norm. “It’s a basement, it’s supposed to be musty,” and “a little water is normal” are phrases homeowners tend to hear. But neither of them is true. While common, it’s not normal for a basement to be wet or have musty odors. Both are signs indicating an underlying problem with the home that needs to be properly addressed before serious damage results.
- Applying “Waterproof” Paint or Sealant to Stop Water Intrusion: Many TV ads and big box stores promote so-called “waterproof” paint or sealant that can be applied to basement walls to keep water at bay. These might sound ideal as a quick fix, but they are only temporary solutions. The paint will peel off due to underlying moisture, and continued purchases and applications can become costly. This also does not address the root cause of the problem, and the water intrusion will only continue and worsen over time.
- Installing other DIY Solutions: Just as we noted above, “quick fixes” are not lasting solutions. Basements are delicate, complex areas, and DIY projects, while useful in other areas, are not suited for basement waterproofing. There is no “one size fits all” fix that applies to every house. The best solution is a trusted, warrantied product and customized plan from basement waterproofing experts like the team at Ohio Basement Authority.
Find your service area
Lima, OH
Lots of precipitation coupled with poorly drained soil in Lima spells danger for your house. But local experts can help permanently waterproof and stabilize your home.
Columbus, OH
Wet basements and cracking foundations are common in homes across Columbus. But permanently repairing and protecting them is what Ohio Basement Authority does best!
Cincinnati, OH
Cincinnati’s precipitation and humidity create a recipe for disaster. Common problems include mold, moisture, and basement leaks, but there are many home protection options!
Dayton-Springfield
The Dayton-Springfield area’s rainy, humid climate and loam soil can take its toll on your home’s structural integrity. Learn how local experts can help you best protect it.
Northern Kentucky
Flooded or damp basements or crawl spaces is a common issue for homeowners in Northern Kentucky. If you find yourself dealing with these problems, contact our Ohio Basement Authority specialists to help you get tailored solutions for your home.
