As you can probably imagine, basements are very prone to the intrusion of water. After all, basements are built into the ground. When water intrudes into a basement, the basement goes from a dry basement to a wet basement. Basements are susceptible to the intrusion of water because water in the soil places consistent pressure on the walls of the basement. If you're not sure whether your home has a wet basement, here is some information that may help you out.
Signs of a Damp or Wet Basement
The best way to identify whether you have a wet basement is to know and look for the signs. Here are the most common signs of a damp or wet basement:
- You see water stains along the basement floor or walls. Water stains can be caused by something as simple as a malfunction with your washing machine. However, it could also be a result of water getting in through the walls, the floor, or the basement windows.
- A damp or musty odor. If there is an excessive amount of moisture in your basement, it can lead to an unmistakable smell.
- Mold. Most mold is colored green, black, or yellow. You won't be able to tell whether a spot is truly molded without conducting some tests. The northwest corner of a basement is most susceptible to the development of mold.
- Efflorescence. This condition is caused by leftover salt deposits after the water evaporates. Efflorescence leads to the production of grayish or white ash on the walls.
- Spalling. The surface of the stone, brick, or concrete can peel, pop off, or flake away due to salt deposits in the water.
- A sump pump. If there is a sump pump in your basement, chances are it was used regularly by the previous owner of the home to deal with dampness or pump out water.
A wet basement is one of the most common problems that homeowners encounter. For more information about how to identify a wet basement in your home, don't hesitate to contact us. Need a basement leak repair? Contact the team at Now Dry today, from doing foundation crack repair to basement waterproofing systems we can help.
