Amy’s Tips for a Wet Basement

With recent volatile weather in our area, some of you may have experienced the disappointment of a wet basement. If you get water in your basement during rain, it’s important to take steps to treat the problem.

First check to be sure your gutters aren’t clogged, that they have a long tail and direct water away from your home and not toward the foundation. Also check to be sure that a leaky window or door isn’t the only reason water is entering your basement.

Also survey your landscaping — is it sloping negatively near the foundation? If so, bring in dirt or hire a landscaper to fix the negative slope. A negative slope can drive water from your yard toward your foundation and into your basement. A positive slope of six inches is ideal.

To treat a wet basement, I recommend hiring a waterproofing company. Get recommendations from your friends and neighbors, and read reviews. I like to check the Better Business Bureau and I always recommend subscribing to Angie’s List to get the best information about home contractors.

When you interview waterproofing companies, be sure to ask if you can get a transferrable warranty for the work. This will help when you sell your home. Different basements will have different needs in terms of waterproofing,

Preventing water from entering your basement is important for the health of your home. Water in your basement can cause mold and mildew to grow, which can be disastrous and a big headache to fix if it gets out of hand.

In our humid climate, many people use dehumidifiers in their basement in the summer. If you don’t have a dehumidifier, you may want to invest in one. It’s also good to have fans circulating air in your basement.

Also, be sure you know how to use the built-in dehumidifier and humidifier in your furnace. There are different settings appropriate for the moisture level in summer and winter.

How to find a waterproofing company:

• Angie’s List
• Cincinnati BBB

More tips for a wet basement:

• 5 Ways to Dry out a Wet Basement