6 Water Intrusion Problems and Solutions
Water intrusion is the unwanted movement of water (liquid) or water vapor into the “building envelope” (the walls, roof, and foundation), where it can cause structural deterioration, health hazards, or damage to interior finishes.
So these are the six water intrusions you should identify before they grow and cause severe water damage in the house.
- Water seepage in the house
- Standing water in the basement
- The water table is rising close to the basement
- Wall dampness in the house
- Higher humidity level
- Higher moisture level
These water intrusion problems negatively affect the house structure. To prevent these critical water problems, Aqviz experts suggest the following suggestions.
1. Water Seepage in the House
The water seepage is moving water from the source gradually. The seepage rate depends on the material porosity and water source pressure. Basement floor seepage, basement wall seepage, foundation seepage, crawl space seepage, slab seepage, and wall seepage are the most common seepage issues in the house. These seepage issues cause many negative impacts on the house.
The seepage rate is increased due to rain and snow melting, poor drainage systems, increasing cracks and gaps, rising groundwater levels, high hydrostatic pressure, bathroom waterproofing damage, and poor landing issues. The causes of the water seepage in the house are land inclination to the foundation, heavy rainfall, poor soil drainage, faulty plumbing, leaky pipes, andan improper drainage system in the garden.
Solutions for the water seepage at the home
- Install an interior French drain system
- Seal cracks and damages in the structure using the crack sealing method
- Install a waterproofing membrane on walls and slabs
- Grade the soil to direct surface water away from the foundation
- Improve the roof drain system
- Seal the door and window spacing
- Maintain the plumbing system properly
2. Standing Water in the Basement
The standing water in the basement is increasing the water level in the basement. This is called basement flooding. Basement floor flooding and basement drainage flooding are the two types of basement flooding in the home. Standing water in the basement is one of the major issues for the many water-related damages in the house.
The basement water standing occurs due to higher hydrostatic pressure, insufficient French drain capacity, faulty gutters and downspouts, improper landscape sloping, plumbing failures, and sump pump failures in the basement.
Solutions for standing water in the basement
- Install a sump pump system with a battery backup
- Create a sump basin with a check valve discharge
- Add an interior perimeter drain tile system
- Use floor slope correction to direct water toward drains
- Maintain the plumbing and sewer system properly
3. Water Table Rising Close to the Basement
The water table is the water level below the ground surface that is completely saturated with water. The water table height can rise and fall according to the accumulation of groundwater. The water table can cause many water-related damages in the home. Its height is increased due to rain and snow melting season, and plumbing damage in the ground. The rising water table can increase other types of water issues in the house.
The increase in the seepage rate, the increase in water leaking, sudden basement flooding, basement erosion, and the formation of building cracks are the main effects of the water table rising at the house. These issues have a negative impact on the house, which can reduce its structural strength and aesthetic appeal of the house. In order to prevent these problems, you should reduce the water table height by building an outer drainage.
Solutions for the rising water table
- Excavate and install deep French drains or curtain drains
- Lower local saturation with a dewatering system
- Use an HDPE waterproofing membrane on exterior walls
- Monitor levels with piezometers or hydrostatic level sensors
- Use an efficient sump pump system with a backup battery pack
4. Wall Dampness in the House
The wall dampness is the presence of excess moisture that can not escape from the house. The most water-damaging areas in the house are basement walls, bathroom walls, laundry room walls, and kitchen walls. Wall dampness causes many negative impacts on the home.
Wall dampness is increased due to an increase in the moisture content in the home. The moisture content will increase due to basement seepage, basement flooding, kitchen steam, plumbing leaks, inadequate ventilation, roof leaks, and clothing lines.
Solutions for wall dampness
- Waterproof the slab, balcony joints, and ceiling
- Extend the roof soffit distance
- Increase the roof slope
- Apply exterior damp proofing agents
- Improve the interior ventilation system
- Use interior air gap drainage membranes behind drywall
5. Higher Humidity Level
When the relative humidity level is more than 60%, it is considered a higher humidity level in the house. Higher humidity levels affect walls, ceilings, and windows in the house on various types of materials. Higher humidity levels cause many negative impacts in the house. The humidity level can increase due to weather conditions (rain, snow), poor ventilation, leaking pipes, cooking steam, showering and bathing water, clothes lines, and growing house plants in the home.
In order to reduce the humidity level in the house, you can use a dehumidifier, improve ventilation, seal the leaks, limit indoor plants, use moisture absorption, use fans, and use an air conditioner.
Solutions for higher humidity levels
- Install a whole-house dehumidifier or a basement dehumidifier
- Seal crawl spaces with 6-mil vapor barriers
- Improve airflow using HVAC returns and exhaust fans
- Replace insulation with closed-cell spray foam in damp areas
6. Higher Moisture Level
Moisture is the measurement of the amount of water in the air. The moisture level depends on the humidity and temperature. When the humidity level changes with the temperature, the moisture content varies. The high moisture level negatively affects the house structure and its materials.
In order to reduce the moisture level in the house, you should increase the ventilation, install a dehumidifier, use an air conditioner, limit the indoor plants, fix leaks and seal cracks, use absorbing materials, and keep surfaces dry.
Solutions for higher moisture levels
- Use hygrometers to monitor and control moisture levels
- Install a moisture management wall system
- Replace carpets with moisture-resistant flooring
- Apply anti-condensation wall paints and sealers
What is Water Intrusion?
Water intrusion is the unwanted movement of water (liquid) or water vapor into the “building envelope” (the walls, roof, and foundation), where it can cause structural deterioration, health hazards, or damage to interior finishes.
In residential structures, water intrusion usually occurs due to surface runoff, groundwater pressure, plumbing leaks, or improper drainage. From our experience at Aqviz, common entry points include basement walls, slab joints, roofs, balconies, windows, and plumbing penetrations. If water intrusion continues without control, it leads to dampness, mold growth, material deterioration, and structural damage over time.
