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  • Water on basement walls can be a serious problem, creating mold and rotting wood and providing a hospitable environment for pests like termites. It may be coming from inside the house as condensation or outside as seepage. There are remedies for both and an easy way to tell the difference.

    Identification

    Tape a small piece of plastic to the wall where you notice water, taking care that the underside of the tape is completely sealed. Check after a day of so. If the top of the plastic is wet, it is condensation from water already present in the room. If the underside is wet, then water is seeping in from the outside.

    Internal Moisture

    Leaky plumbing, basement showers, dryer vents, air conditioners and clotheslines produce moisture that can collect on walls. Water can also back up through drains connected to municipal water or sewage systems. If none of these is the problem, then it may be inadequate ventilation, which can be corrected by opening windows, providing ducting to the outside or buying a dehumidifier.

    Seepage and Leaky Walls

    Excess water collecting around the perimeter of the house can be pushed through the walls by hydrostatic pressure or find its way through cracks in the foundation. This excess water may be inadequately drained rainwater or subsurface water from another source.

    Rainwater Drainage

    Rainwater may be collecting because of inadequate drainage or improperly placed downspouts. Check for deteriorating pavement or slopes that may be directing water towards the house. Downspouts should be at least 10 feet away from the house. Check also for overflowing gutters. Water can diverted away from the house by using a French drain, which is essentially a ditch filled with gravel.

    Subsurface Groundwater

    If you notice water on multiple locations of the walls or on the floor of the basement, then it is likely coming from underneath the house. Subsurface groundwater can come from a high water table, an underground spring or a burst water pipe. If the house is located below street level, the water can also come from a backed-up storm drainage system. Fixing this problem is somewhat more troublesome because it requires installation of a perimeter drainage system.

    Source:

    How to Fix a Leaky Basement

    Wet Basement Problems

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