Risks of a wet basement to your home and health

Do you have a wet basement? Is water leaking from your concrete walls or pooling on your floor? Is moisture and a musty smell present?

Having a leaky or wet basement can have risks on both your property and your health.

Wet Basement Risks to Property

If water and moisture is making it into your basement then that means that there is already some damage to your foundation. If water is finding its way in from cracks, fissures or even block separations then it is also contributing to further deterioration of your foundation walls and the consequences can be dire. Your home’s structural integrity depends on the strength of your foundation and footings. Deterioration of your foundation can lead to severe wall cracks and even to a settling or sinking foundation.

If you have a finished basement then water coming in will sip into drywall, moldings, flooring and other building materials. Where water and moisture is present the growth of mold is a serious risk. Growing mold feeds on building materials like wood, drywall and insulation, this means that there is a breakdown of these materials. The longer mold is left untreated the damage will progress to the point of removing entire walls of drywall to treat the problem. Also mold is accompanied by a strong musky odor and it can affect your indoor air quality.

Wet Basement Risks to Health

The growth of mold in your home can affect yours and your family’s health. Exposure to mold or even mold spores in the air can have a variety of health effects, especially to infants, children, seniors, people with asthma and people with compromised immune systems. Health Canada considers indoor mould growth to be a significant health hazard. Exposure to mold has been linked to the onset of asthma or other lung infections and inflammatory responses.

How to Solve a Wet Basement Problem

A wet basement is a sign of a non-existent or poor basement waterproofing system. A basement waterproofing usually consists of an application of several waterproofing and water-resistant layers on the exterior of your foundation, an exterior weeping tile system at the bottom of the foundation/footings and/or an interior weeping tile system and sump pump.

If you do not have exterior basement waterproofing then water from the outside, from heavy rainfalls or snowmelts, penetrates your foundation walls and leaks into your basement. Also, if you are in a low laying geographic area, water can come up from the ground and sip into your basement.

An exterior waterproofing application and weeping tile protects your home from external water seepage. An interior weeping tile and sump pump gather and expel water away from your property before it gets a chance to flood or cause damage.

If you have a wet or leaky basement call Interhome Waterproofing today to schedule a free basement assessment: 416-836-5253