More Rain, Poor Drain, More Calls for Wet Basement Help
Precipitation is (perhaps obviously) the leading cause of basement flooding. While plumbing leaks can wreak havoc as well, rainfall (or melted snow and ice) along with poor drainage are almost always the culprit in a wet basement. Indiana’s precipitation averages go hand-in-hand with calls we receive requesting free waterproofing estimates. For example, the National Weather Service reported 1.63 inches of precipitation for Indianapolis in December of 2020, but 4.23 inches in 2021. Likewise, October of 2020 saw 5.35 inches, while October of 2021 saw 7.51 inches (Source: National Weather Service – https://weather.gov/ind/Precip_scorecard_IND). Requests for quotes on waterproofing, crawl space encapsulation, and other drainage solutions and sump pumps increased for Crossroads in those months alongside the rain and snow.
An Ounce of Prevention
We’re often asked the best inexpensive ways to avoid water in basements and crawl spaces. Ensuring your home has properly-installed gutters and downspouts is “low hanging fruit” when it comes to prevention of water intrusion. Understand, however, that if your basement isn’t properly or adequately waterproofed, or if your crawl space doesn’t have an encapsulation / sump pump system installed, you may still have issues.
Cleaning out your gutters on a regular basis keeps water flowing properly away from your home’s foundation. As gutters clog, water tends to back up and flow over the sides of the gutters, often bending or damaging them and causing low spots, compounding the problem. Clean gutters, properly installed, should be able to handle precipitation at its heaviest. Down spouts are equally as important. It’s important to extend down spouts away from the base of the home. Many homes’ gutter systems dump water out at the base of the foundation without extending the flow of water out into the yard at a point where it runs away from the house. Increased water content in the soils under your foundation can cause settlement. Increased water pressure built up outside a basement wall can not only leak through walls, but can also bow walls inward causing cracks or breaks. That’s why controlling the water flow from rain or melting snow and ice can be some of the best preventative measures you can take.
Customized Solutions and Free Estimates
If you’re seeing leaks in your basement, which often occur in corners, around windows, and through cracks in walls, you’d do better to take steps now to prevent further problems down the road. Many waterproofing methods are available for wet basements, including drainage systems, sump pumps, and even support braces for walls prone to bowing. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to every basement. It’s important to have a professional inspect your specific case to recommend a customized solution to keeping your basement dry. Such inspections should be done by companies such as ours who:
- Are fully licensed
- Have hundreds of positive reviews
- Include free, written estimates upon inspection
- Offer warranties on most systems and solutions
- Have an excellent rating with 3rd parties like BBB and Angie’s List
Rain or Shine, Keep it Dry
Indiana experiences the most rain on average from April to July, but that’s no reason to wait for higher rainfall to cause more problems. If you fix issues during drier months, you’ll avoid the emergency issues that can arise from unexpected high precipitation. For example, in 2012, Indianapolis saw 0.83″ of rain in July, but in 2015, July brought 13.14″ of rain! (Source: National Weather Service – https://weather.gov/ind/Precip_scorecard_IND)
Don’t let abnormalities in weather patterns take you off guard. Check your basement for signs of leaks, whether visible water or mold. Check around windows and corners, and keep an eye out for cracks and bowing in basement walls. Remember, a dry basement is crucial to maintaining healthy air and retaining value.
