Basement walls are designed to support the weight of your home and to resist moisture enclosing them. When basement walls crack, moisture seeps into your basement; it destroys valuables like carpeting, furniture and encourages mold growth.
A basement wall repair doesn’t have to be a hard and time taking project. Most cracks only need some simple steps but before you should know the reasons behind wall leaking and cracks.
1) Find The Source Of Leakage
Water or moisture in basements appears from two main sources. One source is indoor moisture that condenses on cold surfaces. Another source is water vapors that come from external places. Rainwater, snow, or groundwater can drench the soil around your foundation and flow inside.
Water can penetrate permeable concrete or masonry walls in the form of water vapor. To find out the reasons behind water problems, tape the aluminum sheet to your basement wall and examine it a few days later. Moisture on the outer surface of the foil shows high indoor humidity.
2) Reduce Excess Humidity
Removing the sources of wet air will assist dry out your basement. Seal broken dryer drains with foil tape to avoid humid air from entering your basement. For more safety, add a ventilator fan to your basement bathroom, and make sure to turn it on while showers. Furthermore, close your basement windows during humid weather. And if you’re still noticing any condensation, use a dehumidifier to reduce the humidity.
3) Basement Wall Insulation
Cover outside walls to avoid condensation. In cold weather, insulating basement walls also preserves power and decreases your heating bill. But if water is leaking in from outdoors, never insulate the walls. Otherwise, you will generate mold growth problems.
4) Filling Holes And Cracks
Leaks and cracks in your foundation can let moisture and water penetrate your basement. Filling them may not solve leaks, but it’ll help. Hydraulic cement works great for covering holes in a foundation to seal the hole and secure the fitting in place.
5) Waterproofing Basement Walls
Fill the holes with waterproofing materials, like paint, to prevent water from seeping in. Smooth the coating in all ways to fill every hole, and apply another coat after the first dries.
6) Keep Water Away From Your Foundation
If the basement leaks after heavy rains or snowmelt, make sure water is turned away from your foundation. It’s normal for the soil beside your house to settle over time, forming a channel that receives water and leads it down your foundation wall and into the basement. Create a 6-ft.-wide slope that falls about 4 in. away from the foundation. This will avoid external moisture and leaks.