How To Stop Basement Leaks

Basement leaks are a pain in the rear! They can cause all sorts of problems, such as mold, mildew and rotting wood.

If you have valuable things stored in your basement, or if it is an extended living area, the things that you have can be ruined due to basement leaks. If you’re not sure whether your basement is leaky or not, there are a few things you can do to find out and make sure that you are not at risk.

First of all, you need to move everything out of your basement. I know, this is a pain in the rear too, but it’s the best and most efficient way to make sure that your basement isn’t leaking.

If you don’t have a lot of stuff down there, you can really just move it from one side of the basement to the other while you are searching. The next thing you want to do in order to check for basement leaks is inspect the floor of the basement.

Is there any standing water anywhere? Does there appear to be mold or mildew on the floor? If so, chances are that you have a leak. Find the source by moving up the wall from where the water is.

Another thing you should do is walk around the basement, checking the walls. If you have drywall, are there any places where it is cracking or crumbling? If so, this might be evidence of a leak.

Check unfinished walls for darkened wood, warped wood, or signs of rotted wood. If you find that these are present, you should look behind the sheet rock or wood to find the source of the basement leaks. Chances are, it’s a leaky pipe or something similar.

Once you have found it, you will need to repair the source of the leaks. Any items which have mold or mildew on them, or which has rotted, needs to be removed and replaced.

A thorough cleaning with bleach should take care of mold or mildew which is left over. Follow the tips and advice above to save your basement from troubling leaks!