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What Can I Use to Repair Basement Leaking?

If your basement walls have cracks in them, it’s not unusual for them to be leaking water. However, even small amounts, dripping in when it rains, can cause big problems down the line. Mold, bacteria, and pests are just some of the results of leaking basement walls. So, what can you use to repair basement leaking? The answer may not be as simple as you hoped.

Find the Source

The first thing to do is find the source of the leaking. If you’re looking for repair solutions, you probably already know where the water is coming from. If a basement window isn’t doing a great job of keeping out water, you likely need some window well waterproofing. This process is fairly simple. We install something you could call a tray, which catches any water collecting in the window well. The water is then redirected away from the house.

However, if your basement leaking is caused by cracked basement walls, there’s a bit more to be done.

Don’t Fill Cracks

What most people end up looking for when trying to DIY repair basement leaking is something to fill in the cracks in their walls. However, you should never try to fill in basement wall cracks from the inside. 

Because water leaks in from the outside, filling the cracks from the inside ends up trapping water within the walls. The water will then expand and contract with the weather. This will cause a lot more damage to your walls than if you’d left them.

Determine Severity

The next step is figuring out how severe the issue is. During the worst weather of the year, is the leaking simply causing moisture on the inside of the walls, or is it running down and pooling on the floor? If the worst the weather can do is give you some moisture on your interior walls, you likely just need damp proofing. However, if water is coming in enough to pool, even in tiny rivulettes or puddles, you’ll want to go the waterproofing route. 

Both methods involve accessing the basement walls from the outside, which means digging a trench along the side of the house. However, they each offer a different level of protection.

Basement Damp Proofing

When damp proofing, the real culprit is the cracks in the wall, allowing regular ground moisture in. So, when you hire POM Waterproofing to damp proof your basement walls, we fix cracks from the outside and then coat the exterior of your basement walls. The crack repair will build the integrity of the walls back up while the coating will keep moisture from getting in or forming new ones. 

Basement Waterproofing

With basement waterproofing, the culprit is the amount of water trying to get at your basement walls. A high level of ground water will cause damage to otherwise intact walls. This happens when rain collects along the basement wall and erodes the stone.

When we waterproof your basement walls, we do the same process as damp proofing, but take it a step further. Once the wall has been smoothed and coated, we apply a solid membrane and adhere it to the wall. This membrane provides a solid barrier between ground water and your basement. Then, we install a track that collects and redirects ground water that finds its way to the membrane. The water will then be redirected away from the house, ensuring it doesn’t just pool against the membrane.

Give us a call today if you’re interested in protecting your home from invasive water. 

My Basement Flooded – Now What?

Finding your basement flooded is one of the most stressful situations a homeowner can experience. For most, the immediate response is, “What do I do now?”

Luckily, POM Waterproofing has plenty of experience in the area of basement flooding. Let us walk you, step by step, through what you need to do in the aftermath.

Get Rid of the Water

The first step may seem obvious but, when in a panic, the obvious is often foggy. The first step when you find your basement flooded is getting rid of the water. You can do this one of three ways:

  1. A Bucket
    This method is not easy, nor is it fast or effective. You should only attempt to bail out your basement by hand if you have no other option, financially. It can also be dangerous as flood waters can contain disease and parasites and bailing with a bucket usually leads to contact with the water.
  2. A Wet Vacuum
    A wet vacuum is a vacuum that’s able to suck up liquids. Because this requires the same amount of hauling water outside as bailing with a bucket, it’s also not the most recommended. It does save on time, however, as you can suck up water with the hose, instead of trying to scoop it – which gets difficult the lower the water level gets.
  3. A Pool Pump
    You’ve probably seen one of these before – if not in person, then in a movie. Pool pumps are those long, wide hoses that are used to suck all of the water from a pool when it needs maintenance or is going out of commission. Using one of these can clean up the pooled water in your basement in no time, minimizing long-term damage to your foundation and structure.

Begin Item Recovery

When the basement is clear of pools of water, it’s time to begin salvaging your belongings. Take everything out of the basement. It’s recommended to lay out a tarp on the lawn by the exit nearest your basement. This will allow you to sort through what you recover without spreading flood water and mud all over your house.

Remove Remaining Moisture

When everything is out of the basement, it’s time to get rid of any moisture left. It’s recommended to buy or rent a heavy duty dehumidifier and leave it running in the basement. This will suck up moisture in the air, allowing the space to dry faster.

For any surface you can reach, it’s time to take out your entire closet of towels and begin drying. Save sanitation for later. The goal for now is to get things dry to avoid molding, bacterial growth, and pests.

Ensure Safety

When the basement has been completely dried, let the dehumidifier keep running and begin sanitizing the space. Break out all of your favorite cleaners and use them on every surface that was within a foot of the flood water. This will kill any bacteria that made its way in in the water.

When you’ve cleaned up to the best of your ability, you’ll want to have a professional come out and inspect your basement. Someone experienced in basement flood recovery will be able to spot any areas that may need further help, such as waterlogged wood that may rot. Without an inspection, certain red flags may slip your notice and leave you with hefty remodeling bills down the line.

Avoid Another Flood

If your basement flooded just by severe weather, it’s time to prepare for future flooding. If it can happen once, it can happen again. Therefore, if there was a specific source for the flood water, such as a window well, window well waterproofing could save you from another disaster. However, if cracks in your foundation or basement walls are the culprit, it’s time to invest in basement waterproofing. Keep your house lasting as long as you do by investing in your future.