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4 Reasons Your Basement Becomes Wet

It's that time of year when that blanket of powdery snow melts into wet slush that soaks the ground and your shoes alike. All this melting snow means an increase in the amount of water in the ground next to your foundation. This explains why your basement or crawl space may have puddles on your floor or condensation building up on your foundation walls. When the water resting in the ground next to your foundation increases, so does the pressure exerted on the foundation wall. 

The water wants to escape and often it finds sanctuary in your basement. You might ask, so why does my basement leak? There are many reasons why basements become wet. Here are the 4 Main Reasons Basements Become Wet or Damp: 

  1. Ground Water Leakage

    Cracked Wall Water Leak  Cracked Basement Wall

As mentioned earlier when snow melts the amount of water in the ground increases. The pressure the water puts on your foundation walls also increases. This pressure forces water into your basement through holes, cracks, or joints. This is often what causes puddles and standing water in your basement or crawl space. 

  1. Wicking 

If your foundation wall is a block design you may also be wondering, "how can a block wall leak?" Well in a way your right, the block wall may not be leaking for condensation to build on it. What's actually happening is that the block is absorbing moisture from the outside and storing it inside. Then the water is forcing its way from inside the block to the surface, like a sponge. This is a process called wicking. Your basement may not be wet from any direct leak, but from moisture wicking through wall blocks. 

  1. Water Vapor  

Water vapor is created when water evaporates into the air. So when condensation builds on foundation walls from wicking or puddles from ground leakage that water eventually evaporates into water vapor. Water vapor raises the humidity and can lead to problems such as odor, rot, or mold.  One sign of water vapor damage is peeling/chipping paint on your home's walls.   

  1. Air Leakage 

The last way water gets into your basement is from exterior air leaking into your basement. This can be caused by open vents, cracks, joints and any other opening in your basement walls and floor. However, air leakage really isn't a problem as long as the outside air is cooler than the air in your basement. But with spring fast on its way air leakage can become a much bigger problem than it is in winter. When it's hot and humid, rain or not, your basement may be the wettest it has been all year.  

These are the 4 reasons that basements become wet or damp. It is important to know that your basement can face water damage even if your basement isn't flooded.  

One of the areas Midwest Basement Systems specializes is basement waterproofing and mold and humidity control. If you are having problems from ground water leakage, wicking, water vapor, or air leakage Midwest Basement Systems can help. Contact us by calling 1-515-289-1606 today!

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Midwest Foundation Repair
9850 Douglas Ave Suite 100
Urbandale, IA 50322
1-515-992-7046
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