Water in the Basement? 5 Ways to Waterproof Your Basement

A basement is a room or space that’s below ground level, usually in a house. It’s often used for storage and as a place to park cars.

Basements are made of concrete or brick walls with waterproofing materials like tar paper (a type of paper) between them, so they don’t get wet when it rains outside. However, if water gets into your basement through cracks in the walls or flooring, it can cause mold and other problems like damage to your furniture and belongings.

Waterproofing your basement will help keep out moisture so that you don’t have any problems with mold growing inside your home!

The Causes of Basement Water Damage

The first step to waterproofing your basement is identifying the cause of the water damage. If you have a sump pump, check it to see if it’s working properly and draining water away from your home. If not, call a plumber and have them fix it before continuing with any other waterproofing measures.

If you don’t have a sump pump or if it isn’t working properly, then there are other possible causes for flooding in your basement:

Rainwater can seep through cracks in the foundation or walls of your house and collect in puddles on the floor below (especially if there are windows near these areas).

Melting snow can also contribute to flooding during springtime thaws as well as during winter storms when precipitation falls at higher rates than usual–and melts faster than usual too! This type of flooding usually occurs when there isn’t enough insulation between floors so that ice dams form on top of roofs instead of melting off naturally over time; this causes water pressure within homes’ walls which leads back down towards lower levels like basements where they collect into pools until they overflow onto floors below them…or even worse yet: burst through ceilings!

The Dangers of Basement Water Damage

If you’re experiencing basement water damage, it’s important to take action quickly. The longer you wait, the more likely your problem will become worse and harder to fix. The main dangers of basement flooding are:

• Mold and mildew
• Weakened foundation
• Structural damage (that could lead to more serious problems later on)
• Pest infestations

How to Waterproof a Basement

You can waterproof your basement in two ways: exterior and interior. The exterior approach involves applying sealants to the walls and floor of your basement, which will prevent water from seeping through cracks in the foundation. Interior waterproofing involves installing a sump pump to remove excess water from the ground underneath your house, as well as using dehumidifiers to reduce moisture levels in the air inside it.

Basement waterproofing comes with many benefits besides preventing mold growth–it also keeps dirt out of your home and reduces noise pollution from outside sources like traffic or construction sites near by

Exterior Waterproofing

You can also use exterior waterproofing methods to prevent water from seeping into your basement. These include:

Exterior drainage systems.

These include gutters, downspouts and storm drains that carry rainwater away from the house.

Foundation sealants.

They help keep moisture from getting into cracks around windows and doors or between bricks on the outside of your foundation wall (also called “caulking”).

Waterproof membranes applied to walls below grade level before they’re covered with dirt or gravel; this is especially important if you live in an area with heavy rainfall or high groundwater levels (like flood plains). It’s also important not to create any holes through these membranes while digging around them because they’ll become ineffective if they’re punctured by roots growing through them!

Interior Waterproofing

Interior drainage systems are a great way to keep water away from your basement. A sump pump system, for example, will remove any water that makes its way into your basement and send it outside through a drainage pipe or trench. You can also install an interior drain tile system if you have a high water table (the level at which groundwater is present).

Waterproof coatings are another option for waterproofing basements because they’re easy to apply and last up to 20 years without requiring maintenance. These coatings form an impenetrable barrier between concrete walls or floors and moisture sources like soil or groundwater below ground level; this prevents seepage through cracks in the foundation wall as well as groundwater infiltration into the home’s interior spaces during heavy rainstorms or snowmelt events when there’s excess runoff from nearby hillsides into urbanized areas where people live near riverside properties with no natural barriers between them

Sump Pumps

Sump pumps are an essential part of any basement waterproofing system, but they can also be complicated to install and maintain. If you’re not sure how to use your sump pump properly or if it needs repair, we recommend hiring a professional to help with both tasks.

The first step in installing a new sump pump is finding the right place for it in your basement floor drain. This is important because if the water level rises high enough, it will overflow into other areas of your home–and possibly even flood them completely! So make sure that there’s enough room around all sides of your new drainage system so that water can flow freely out onto lawns or driveways outside instead of pooling up inside where things might get damaged by mold growth later down the road (which would cost thousands upon thousands dollars). The second step involves connecting pipes between each section as well as attaching wires from batteries back up systems; this may sound difficult but our team at Delaware Waterproofing has years’ worth experience doing just these kinds of jobs every single day!

Dehumidifiers

Dehumidifiers are a great way to remove excess moisture from your basement. There are several different types of dehumidifiers, each with their own pros and cons.

Refrigerant-based:

These models use refrigerants like Freon or R410A to absorb water from the air by condensing it into liquid form. They’re generally more efficient than other types of dehumidifiers, but also more expensive and less environmentally friendly (as they contain harmful chemicals).

Compressor-based:

Compressor-based models work similarly to refrigerant ones, except they don’t need any special chemicals–just electricity! They’re cheaper than refrigerant units but won’t last as long because they have moving parts that can break down over time.

Evaporative:

Evaporative units rely on heat exchange between two surfaces–one hot and one cold–to evaporate water molecules out of air passing through them; this process requires no electricity or refrigerants at all! However, these systems tend not to work well when humidity levels are high enough that most people would consider them “muggy” rather than “humid.”

Sealants

When it comes to sealants, there are a few different types. The most common is silicone caulk. It’s easy to find at your local hardware store and can be applied with a standard caulking gun. You may also want to consider using acrylic latex or polyurethane sealants (or both). These are more expensive than silicone but offer greater flexibility in application–they can be used on vertical surfaces as well as horizontal ones.

If you’re going with acrylic latex or polyurethane sealant, make sure that whatever tool you use has an adjustable tip so that it can reach into small spaces like window frames without making a mess of things!

The Benefits of Waterproofing Your Basement

Waterproofing your basement is one of the best things you can do for your home. Not only does it improve air quality, reduce energy bills and increase home value, but it also helps prevent mold growth and other damage caused by moisture buildup.

Waterproofing may seem like an expensive project at first glance, but there are ways to save money while still getting the job done right. Here are five tips for waterproofing your basement:

How to Choose a Professional Waterproofing Company

When choosing a professional waterproofing company, you should consider factors such as reputation, experience and cost. Reputation is important because it can help you determine whether or not the company has been in business for many years and if they have an excellent track record of providing quality workmanship.

Experience is also important because experienced professionals know what works best in your area and will be able to provide you with more information about how to solve your problem than someone who has less knowledge about water issues.

Cost should be taken into consideration when looking for a waterproofing contractor; however, it should not be the only factor used in making your decision since some companies may offer cheaper services but end up costing more money over time due to poor quality workmanship or materials used during installation (which would require additional repairs).

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a way to waterproof your basement, this post is for you. Waterproofing is an important step in preventing mold and mildew from growing in your home. It also helps keep basements dry, which can save money on heating bills during cold weather months.

If you’re interested in learning more about how to waterproof a basement, please contact us today! We offer free estimates and will be happy to help answer any questions that come up during the process of waterproofing your home or business.

Frequently Asked Questions