7 Tips for Protecting Your Basement From Water Damage

Many examples of sudden home flooding are the result of appliances malfunctioning. In many cases, the hoses on these appliances are to blame, so it’s good practice for you to regularly inspect hoses for signs of cracks or leaks. Also, start getting in the habit of proactively replacing all appliance hoses every five to seven years.

The Insurance Information Institute (III) explains that your appliance inspection should include anything with a water line, including:

• Washing machines
• Water heaters
• Dishwashers
• Refrigerators

This Old House explains that many wet basements are the result of rainwater and melting snow. If there isn’t enough of a slope away from the foundation of your home, all that water will sit against your basement walls and potentially make its way inside. 

For rainwater, even a surprisingly modest amount of precipitation can produce significant risks. This Old House further notes that for every one inch of rain, the roof of a 1,500-square-foot home will produce 1,000 gallons of water runoff. If the ground around your home’s grade is flat or slopes inward toward your walls, all of that water will soak in right against your basement.

In other cases, rising groundwater may be the culprit. Oftentimes, an underground spring may cause the water table to rise. Again, water that accumulates around your foundation can eventually make it into your basement.

Even irrigation that is aimed too close to your home can promote basement water intrusion. If your home’s landscaping is promoting basement moisture, you may want to consider pulling up any shrubs or plants close to your foundation that need to be watered.

Even if your basement isn’t being flooded by a torrential rainstorm or cracked appliance hose, you could be at risk for moisture intrusion. Condensation can allow metals to rust, carpets to smell, and mold and mildew to sprout. In more serious cases, the condensation can actually make its way to the flooring above, causing issues like wood floor buckling.   

This Old House points out that condensation will appear as water drops, puddles, or wet spots on the floors and walls of your basement. It’s often the result of warm, moist air making contact with cold pipes or foundation walls. To help address this problem, you can insulate cold-water pipes that may be causing this condensation. If cold pipes aren’t the cause, you may have to use a dehumidifier to help cut down on the moisture in your basement air. 

Bob Vila notes that it’s important to keep your gutters clear and "free of debris" that could cause water to overflow and prevent it from being diverted through the downspouts. If water falls too close to your house, it can easily make its way through your basement walls.

It’s also important to extend your downspouts if they don’t release the water far enough from your house's foundation. It’s recommended that water is directed a minimum of 'three feet away" from your home. Downspouts not long enough? You can place troughs below your downspouts to direct water further away.

If you have a septic tank, it’s important that you regularly have it cleaned to ensure it is operating properly and not overtaxed. If you’re on a municipal water system, you have other risks. State Farm notes that older homes can sometimes experience water backup due to periods of heavy rain. 

Although you’re limited with what you can do if you’re on a city water line that backs up during periods of heavy rain or overuse, you can still take some steps to protect your home’s pipes from a backup:

• Use tree root killer annually to prevent them from damaging your pipes.
• Never wash grease down your drain, as it can cause clogs. 
• Take good care of your pipes.
• Install "backflow preventers" to keep sewer water from traveling back into your home.

While a sump pump won’t prevent water from getting into your basement, it can help significantly mitigate any damage. Standing water can quickly soak into furniture, cause electrical damage and allow the growth of mold and mildew. A sump pump can decrease these risks by helping quickly expel excess water.

For portable sump pumps, you will need to ensure it’s located in the lowest part of your basement. For a pump that sits below the grade of your basement floor, regularly check to make sure that it’s clear of any debris that could prevent it from operating correctly. 

Even though contractors take steps to waterproof your basement during construction, Bob Vila notes that homes often settle, causing cracks in the foundation that can let in water. To prevent the accumulation of moisture, a sealant can be used to repair those cracks.

Few other areas of your home are as vulnerable to flooding as your basement. If you’re like many homeowners, your basement is a place that you may not regularly enter, so water can accumulate and cause damage over the course of many days or even weeks. In some cases, the worst damage may be done by the time you notice that anything is wrong. 

Fortunately, some of the steps you can take to prevent basement flooding are relatively easy. In many cases, simple preventative maintenance today can help you avoid big, expensive repairs tomorrow.