A basement that’s always flooding can be a homeowner’s worst nightmare. Needless to say, a flooding basement can bring about a multitude of issues that go beyond simple water damage. Excessive moisture tends to create a breeding ground for mold and mildew, which can cause allergies and other respiratory issues. In other words, a flooding basement isn’t just an annoying problem — it’s a potential health hazard.
Basement flooding can also cause long-lasting damage to the structural integrity of your home. The constant presence of water can gradually weaken the foundation, which will almost definitely compromise your home’s stability over time. In today’s blog post, we’ll be diving into the reasons why your basement frequently turns into a makeshift swimming pool, as well as what you can do to fix the issue. Legendess Plumbing — the company with the best plumbers in Delco, PA — is here to help!
5 Reasons Why Your Basement is Flooding
In addition to making your basement basically inaccessible, basement flooding can result in the destruction of your personal belongings as well as pose a major threat to the health and safety of your family members. When faced with the issue of basement flooding, you’ll likely be desperate for answers. We’ve all been there! It’s never a fun situation, which is why we’re here to provide you with some of the reasons why basement flooding occurs.
Collapsed Drain Pipe
The drainage system in your home plays a super important role in making sure water from all your fixtures flows smoothly through a central drain pipe and out of your home’s foundation. Depending on whether you’re connected to a municipal wastewater system or have a septic tank, that wastewater is directed where it needs to go. When those drain lines get clogged or blocked, though, it can essentially set off a domino effect (i.e. some seriously disastrous basement flooding). Basically, instead of your waste and wastewater flowing out of your home, it comes right back in and invades your living space.
This backup of waste and wastewater finds its way back in through the drains, oftentimes turning your basement into a watery mess.
Broken Water Heater
A broken water heater can also lead to basement flooding. Leaks, for example, are a common problem that may not cause an immediate flood, but can cause significant damage over time — especially to wood and drywall. To check for leaks, inspect the visible inlet and outlet valves on the top of the water heater for any signs of dampness. The drain valve at the bottom of the fittings connected to the heater can also be potential leak sources. When the temperature and pressure relief valve on your water heater malfunctions, that can also cause leaks (and eventually flooding) to occur.
Poor Drainage
The purpose of the gutter system is to divert water away from your home. However, if your yard slopes towards your home, it can cause a problem even if the water flows freely through the gutters. In this case, the water can end up flowing back towards your home. This creates hydrostatic pressure that pushes the water through the concrete walls and floor, leading to frequent flooding during heavy rain or when snow is melting around your house. If your basement has a raised floor, you may not immediately notice this issue — that is, until the water starts eroding the concrete and cracks begin to form in the foundation.
Clogged Gutters
As you may or may not know, your home’s gutter system plays a huge role when it comes to preventing water seepage and basement flooding. Its purpose is to collect water and divert it away from the base of your home, which is meant to prevent it from saturating the soil surrounding it (and eventually flooding your basement). When your gutter system gets clogged or blocked, though, it can hinder the flow of water through the troughs along the roof and obstruct drainage through the downspouts. As a result, the water will have no choice but to overflow from the sides of the gutters wherever it finds a way.
Cracked Foundation
There’s a reason you’re supposed to waterproof the exterior of your home. How else are you going to prevent rainwater and melted snow from seeping into your home’s foundation? If there are cracks in your home’s foundation, that could be the reason your basement is flooding so frequently — especially during the rainy seasons. Basically, external pressure can push water from the surrounding soil through these cracks, and this can lead to unwanted water entry into your home. This is why it’s a good idea to get your home’s foundation inspected regularly for cracks and other issues.
How to Prevent Basement Flooding
We all know that basement flooding is the worst, so what can you do to prevent it from happening in the first place? Well, first and foremost, we’d recommend hiring a plumber to conduct a sewer pipe inspection. If necessary, you may need to invest in a sewer replacement. This will mainly be the case if you have a consistently clogged drain. Another preventative measure you can take is extending your downspouts and making sure that they are turned away from the perimeter of your home. By doing so, you’ll be preventing rainwater from flowing back towards your exterior walls.
Something else you can do is clean out your gutters regularly. Sticks, Autumn leaves, and debris tend to accumulate in your gutters, and this can, unfortunately, obstruct proper water drainage. Cleaning out your gutters in the spring and fall is an excellent way to ensure proper water flow and prevent issues like basement flooding. You may also want to consider installing a sump pump, which basically acts as a large floor drain, and can help to control water build-up in your basement. If you’ve been dealing with a basement that’s always flooding, don’t hesitate to reach out to Legendess Plumbing. Our team of professionals will be happy to answer your questions and help you out.