Basement Leaking: Causes, Sources, Damages, Repairs and Preventions

Written By Adam Paul - Waterproofing Expert

The basement leaking is water penetrating inside the basement through the basement floor walls equipment, and instruments used in the basement. The basement leak can cause increasing ground water table, higher hydrostatic pressure, poor drainage system, plumbing issues, floor and wall cracks, and downspout leaking.

Water can be leaked into the basement through basement walls, AC units, cracks, shower line leaks, dishwasher drain leaks, improper chimney setups, and joints in the basement floor and walls. These water accumulations ways damage the basement by increasing structural damages, growing mold and mildew, decreasing property values, increasing energy costs and increasing the pest infestation to the basement and structure.

A damaged basement due to water leaks can be repaired by sealing the cracks and holes, installing a French drain system, sump pump, and dehumidifiers, and checking and repairing the downspout and gutters.

You can stop basement leaking by following 5 methods such as waterproofing the basement, controlling the groundwater accumulation, changing the ground inclination, setup the downspout away from the basement, and preparing a proper gardening system. When you set up these things, you can stop and control the basement leakage.

What is a Basement Leaking?

The basement leaking is water penetrating inside the basement through the basement floor, walls, equipment, and instruments used in the basement. The leaking rate of the basement depends on the seasonality, source of the water, height of the basement, crack width, and the material permeability.

What are the Causes of Basement Leaking?

The basement leaking can be caused by these reasons: increasing ground water table, higher hydrostatic pressure in the ground, poor drainage system, plumbing issues, floor and wall cracks, inadequate sealing, and door and window leaking. In order to control this you should apply a suitable waterproofing membrane in the basement.

1. Increasing groundwater table

A basement leak can increase the groundwater table. The groundwater table rises during the snow-melting and heavy rain seasons. A higher water table can increase the groundwater pressure, seepage, and leak rate, which helps to prevent basement leaking.

2. Higher hydrostatic pressure

The basement can leak due to the higher hydrostatic pressure. Water can collect around the basement ground during heavy rainy and snow-melting seasons. The accumulated water can exert a higher hydrostatic pressure against the basement. Higher hydrostatic pressure can penetrate the concrete and cause basement leaks.

3. Poor drainage system

Basement leaking can increase due to poor drainage system. A poor drainage system can malfunction due to leakages in the shower, air conditioning unit, sewer lines, pipelines, toilet, faucet, and bathtub. Water will seep into the basement through these leaks causing basement leaking.

4. Plumbing issues

Basement leaking is increased due to plumbing issues. Plumbing issues can occur due to faulty pipes, inadequate pipe sealing, higher pipe pressure, and ground construction. Water can seep through these leaks and collect in the basement, causing them to leak.

5. Floor and wall cracks

Basement leaking can increased by the floor and wall cracks in the foundation. The reasons for the floor and wall cracks in the basement are movement in the foundation due to the natural settling of the building, temperature, and moisture fluctuations. Large amounts of water can leak into the basement by horizontal and vertical cracks wider than ¼ inch. Small but continuous water can leak into the basement by the hairline and diagonal cracks.

7. Door and window leakings

Basement leaking can occur due door and window leaking. Door and window leakages can happen due to placing them in the wrong places, deterioration of frames, rusting of materials, and opening doors and windows. Water can enter into the basement through these openings, causing basement leaks.

What are the Basement Leaking Sources?

The basement leaking sources are the places, equipments or areas where water is leak into the basement. Water can leak into the basement through the AC unit, shower drains, leak of sewer lines, dishwasher drains, floor and wall cracks, chimneys, and joints in the basement.

1. Basement walls

Basement walls tend to leak water from exterior to interior through cracks and holes in the basement walls. The basement wall leaks water due to high underground hydrostatic pressure and porosity of basement wall materials.

2. AC unit condensate lines

When the AC unit leaks the condensate water into the basement regularly can cause to increase in the water in the basement. Prolonged water accumulation can cause to flood the basement inside.

3. Floor and wall cracks in the basement

Floor and wall cracks act as leaking sources for water and moisture. Also, cracks can cause movements in the foundation, causing high pressure. These tend to cause basement leaks.

4. Shower leaks

Shower leaks can accumulate the water in the basement. Shower leaks can occur due to clogs in the shower line and deterioration of shower materials. Water can seep into the basement through these leaks and collect in the basement.

5. Sewer line leaks

Sewer line leaking increases the water accumulation to the ground and increases the groundwater level. As a result of this basement tends to leak water due to higher pressure through the cracks and damage to the walls.

Sewer line leaks can occur due to clogs, improper maintenance, worn-out materials, and rusting. Water can leak through the sewer line and accumulate in the basement, causing basement leaks.

6. Dishwasher

The dishwasher tends to leak water by overflowing and through leaking hoses. The overflowing dishwasher and leaking hoses indirectly affect the basement leaks.

7. Chimney

Chimneys tend to leak water through cracks in the bricks and loose mortar. The loss of the chimney cap caused the water and moisture to leak inside the basement.

8. Joints

Joints can leak the water into the basement when they are improperly sealed. Water can directly seep through joints when hydrostatic pressure is high close to the basement.

What are the Basement Leaking Damages?

Basement leaking damages are negative impacts of the water leaking into the basement. Basements can be affected by mold and mildew growth, and pest infestations. These cause damage to the structure. It tends to decrease the property value and increase the energy cost and maintenance cost of the basement.

1. Structural damage

Basement leaking can cause structural damages such as deterioration of materials, damage to the foundation, and risk for collapses. The damaged basement will reduce the value of the basement and increase the risk of using it. This will limit the usage of the basement time and make it challenging to refinance the parts in the basement.

2. Mold and mildew growth

Basement leaking cause to dampen the basement and increases mold growth. Mold can destroy the strength of the basement, generate harmful gases that cause health problems, and creating an unpleasant environment for users.

3. Decrease property value

Basement leakage can decrease property value due to lower basement quality. This causes to make hard to sell the property.

4. Increase the energy cost

Basement leaks can increase the humidity level and make the atmosphere dampen. To maintain the optimum humidity level AC unit has to be operated for a more extended period, causing additional expenses for energy.

5. Paint and wallpaper damages

Basement leakage can peel off the paintings, decolorize the wallpapers, and cause mold growth in the walls. This will make the basement unpleasant and ruin the user experience.

6. Pest infestation

Basement leaking can create stagnant water places and generate an ideal breeding place for pests like mosquitoes. These pests transmit diseases such as dengue and cause severe health issues.

How to Repair Basement Leaking DIY?

You can repair and recover leaked basement to a proper one by following 5 ways. First, you should seal the basement cracks and holes then you should install a french drain system along the basement. Then, you can install a sump pump to collect and remove the seep water from the basement. Inorder to control the humidity in the basement, you can install a humidifier. As a further action, you can check and repair downspouts and gutters by pointing them out form the basement.

1. Seal the basement cracks and holes

You can seal the leaks to close the water entry points and prevent dampness in the basement. To seal minor cracks, you can use epoxy sealant. To seal major cracks, you should seal them from the outside using an injecting method.

2. Install French drain

You can install a French drain system on the interior and exterior of the basement in order to prevent the basement from leaking successfully. The French drain systems are engineered to direct the water away from the house's foundation. This will reduce the excess hydrostatic pressure and the risk of basement leaks.

3. Install the sump pump

You can install a sump pump system in the basement to remove the accumulated water form the basement leaking. The sump pump can navigate the excess water accumulated near the foundation due to heavy rainfall, snow melting, and leakages in the underground pipelines away from the house. This will optimize the hydrostatic pressure and avoid the risk of flooding, preventing basement leaks.

4. Install dehumidifier

You can install a dehumidifier in the basement to prevent accumulating excess moisture in the basement. Excessive moisture levels can increase the pressure levels and cause basement leaks. Dehumidifiers can maintain the optimum humidity level inside the basement, preventing leaks.

5. Check and repair downspouts and gutters

You should check and repair downspouts and gutter regularly to stop the basement leaking. Gutters can collect excess rainwater and direct it to downspouts. Downspouts can remove the excess rainwater from the house, reducing hydrostatic pressure and preventing soil from becoming saturated. This will avoid leaks in the basement and regular cleaning and maintaining the gutters and downspouts is essential.

How to Stop Basement Leaking?

1. Waterproof the basement

You can stop the basement leaking by waterproofing the basement. You should close water entry points and keep the basement dry by waterproofing the basement walls. This will reduce the basement leaks. To waterproof the basement, you can install a sump pump, drains, dehumidifier in the basement, and seal cracks.

2. Control groundwater accumulation

You can minimize basement leakage by controlling groundwater pressure. Groundwater accumulation can exert hydrostatic pressure against the basement and cause basement cracks. Through these cracks and pressure, basement leaks can occur. You can control groundwater accumulation by growing vegetation, using proper irrigation systems, and using efficient pavements.

3. Changing the ground inclination away

You can prevent the basement leaks by changing the ground inclination away. You can direct the rainwater and snow-melting water away from the foundation by inclining the ground away from the house. This will help to manage the hydrostatic pressure and prevent basement leaks. You can grade the ground and add soil and plant vegetation to change the inclination.

4. Setup downspouts away from the basement

You can control the basement leaks by installing downspouts away from the basement. Downspouts are designed to collect and transport excess rainwater away from the basement to manage the soil saturation and hydrostatic pressure. You should place downspouts 6-12 feet away from the house to get the best performance.

5. Prepare a proper garden drain system

You can prevent basement leaks by a proper garden drain system. A properly designed garden drain system will drain the rainwater from the foundation and help manage soil saturation, moisture levels, and hydrostatic pressure. Shallow ditches, extended downspouts, and dry wells help to maintain a proper garden drain system.