Wet basements can be very frustrating. How about when you are out shopping, or even worse out of town, and you know there is a deluge that is probably wreaking havoc on your basement. Thinking about what must be going on can consume a person, and then finally you head down the stairs to see what could be bad as you hope for the best.
One common cause for wet basements is actually your roof water. Yeah, roof water management is more important than most people think. Overflowing gutters can pelt water right close to your foundation at a very heavy rate. Downspouts that are disconnected from extensions that lead the water away underground or away from the home on the surface can have the effect of a couple garden hoses running wide open right down your foundation walls.
There are a few common signs that I look for that relate to roof water when I inspect foundations for water seepage sources. First, if your mulch or the dirt around your home is impressed or eroded away in a straight line parallel to the foundation, look up. This is a typical sign of gutters overflowing. Also look to see if there is a lot of gravel or pebbles along the ground close to the foundation that have washed up to the surface in those areas. If so that could mean the problem has been going on for a while. You may be able to simply clean out your gutters and be fine. Watch after the next heavy rain, if you still have cascading water off of the roof you may need to go to an oversized gutter. Or it could be the downspout drain.
Another sign I look for is mulch or dirt that has sunken and or eroded away around the downspout. This could mean the drain is clogged underground and is backing up, causing the water to wash away the soil around the drain. Cleaning underground downspout lines is very important and often overlooked. Have your underground downspout lines checked or cleaned by a drain professional every year or two to prevent that water back up and keep it out of your basement.
If your downspouts are simply running out on the surface, five to six feet away from the foundation to an area where the water will run off and away on to your lawn or landscape should do fine. You want to get at least four feet out to get past the "soft zone" which was created when the home was built. This is where soil from construction is mixed up and was back filled around the home. This soil will stay soft for many many years. It's pretty shocking how easy it is to dig by hand all the way down a sixty year old foundation. Try that out in the middle of the lawn and you are lucky to get past 18 inches!
If your roof water is well managed you will greatly reduce your chances of a leaky basement. If all is well and you still have a leak, call a waterproofing professional!
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