ASHWORTH DRAINAGE BLOG
Basements can be notorious for being dank, humid places, but don’t take the moisture as an ordinary sign – it can mean an issue exists that could affect the integrity of your entire house. From foundation shifting to hazardous mould, basement moisture can be a sign of a lot of different problems.
What causes basement moisture – and more importantly, how can you solve it? Here are five major causes of basement moisture and how you can ensure they don’t become widespread issues.
To the average person, plumbers and drainage contractors sound like similar professions. The thing about water issues is that not all of the causes and solutions are the same – as such, the two jobs are different, too! Here’s when you should call a plumber and when you should call a drainage contractor.
An essential part of any home waterproofing plan is a working French drain. This simple system collects water as it falls to the foot of your foundation and directs it to a storm drain or sump pump. If your home needs a system put in, or you need to replace the existing one, you may wonder about the price of a French drain installation.
It varies based on many factors, but you may be able to ballpark it at between $2,000 and $6,000. Here’s what goes into making the final cost.
Excess water in the basement is the biggest cause of mold growth, but the moisture may be in hard-to-see parts of this below-ground level. One way most homeowners first detect mold with their nose – the odors of mold can be easily detected. How can you pick out mold from ordinary home aromas?
Soil surrounding your homes’ foundation can contain a lot of moisture, and the force of this waterlogged soil is called hydrostatic pressure. It’s one of the leading causes of basement drainage issues. It is the force behind leaks, cracks, and even the bowing of the foundation, but with the proper protection, you can prevent these problems!
Waterproofing and drainage problems are not always easy to spot. When these issues are small, they can be almost imperceptible; it isn’t until they become large that the average homeowner notices – think flooded basements, water spots on walls, and damaged items.
A professional, visual inspection can detect these problems before they cause extensive (and expensive) damage. Waterproofing inspections can identify any signs of poor drainage and foundation damage. Here’s how they work!
Water isn’t immune to gravity: it always moves to the lowest point. On many properties, that can be the ground around a home. When heavy rains fall or snow begins to melt, all that water can flow through the soil and right up to the foundation walls. One of the ways to stop this water from staying next to the concrete is to have a system that takes the water away. This is the French drain.
A French drain (also known as a weeping tile system) helps the drain out of the soil and around the foundation. It’s a key part of the protection system for your basement, and there are other benefits to having a working French drain, too!
Proper drainage around your swimming pool is important to keeping sanitary; you don’t want to let soil and debris flow into the water you’ve spent so much time and money cleaning! “Proper drainage” means getting rid of any standing water around the pool and deck and preventing pooling in planters, garden beds, and lawns that surround a below-ground pool.
Water coming into a basement doesn’t only damage the structure of a home and what’s inside – it can cause dangerous mould growth, too. Mould and mildew start growing within 24-48 hours of even the smallest amount of water exposure, and if left longer than two days, the problem can spread far beyond where the water damage is taking place.