Nothing ruins your holidays worse than a flooded basement. You surely don’t want to mop your basement floor during your holidays. The costly repair and inconvenience of basement leaks will disrupt your winter plans.
But basement leaks are pretty common in winter. Several factors cause your basement to leak. During winter, your home is surrounded by frozen water. While it is always recommended to consult professionals, it is also essential to assess the reasons behind the leak.
Why is your basement leaking?
Here are some common reasons your basement leak in winter:
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Basement radiates heat and melts snow
While it is freezing outside, the temperature in the basement is warmer. Indeed, it is cozier compared to the harsh cold outside. The ground outside the home is cold, and the ground inside the basement is warm. This leads the basement to radiate heat, causing the walls outside to get warm.
The radiant heat enters the frozen soil and melts the snow, thus causing water accumulation. And build-up moisture is the most common cause of leaks.
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Hydrostatic pressure
Hydrostatic pressure is also known as the pull of gravity. And when it comes to a leaky basement, the pressure is your major culprit. Hydrostatic pressure pushes the water down. With the pressure building up, the water is forced to enter through existing cracks in your foundation. The pressure is sometimes so high that it can lead to new cracks as the water moisture needs to make its way inside.
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Eavestrough and downspouts near the house
Efficiently working eavestroughs and downspouts are important to keep leaks at bay. These elements help channel water away from your home. However, if it doesn’t work correctly, they can cause harm too. When properly installed, they pull moisture away from your home. However, they can force water inside when improperly installed or poorly maintained. Hence, it is suggested to keep your gutters and downspouts clean.
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The wrong soil
The soil surrounding your basement has a major role in leaks. The suitable soil and irrigation will help the water drain well. But the wrong soil with poor drainage will build a pool and trap moisture against your basement wall. Specific soil, like clay soil, prevents leaks by absorbing moisture. If the soil around your home doesn’t help in water drainage, replace it with clean, fill dirt and top it with stones to avoid erosion.
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Crack in your basement
Water commonly enters your basement through cracks in the walls. When the moisture collects around your basement wall, the pressure pushes the moisture down the wall to find its way to escape. As the pressure builds up, moisture is pushed through cracks in the wall, causing a wet basement.
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Sump pump not working
If your basement has a sump pump, ensure it is working correctly. It is designed to collect excess water and throw it outside. But if your sump pump is not working, water will accumulate and flood your basement.
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Clogged drains
Of course, clogged drains can lead to water back into the pipe, which can eventually overflow in your basement. The clogs can occur in the sewer line of your home. It is important to take measures to ensure water flows freely through your pipes and drains.
As winter comes, it is important to take preventive measures to avoid basement leaks. Ensure you assess the basement waterproofing cost and take the steps before to avoid your moisture from getting flooded in winter.
