The same hydrostatic pressure that forces water into the basement also presses upward on the basement floor and can cause it to crack. They are there to provide a clean, solid base. There are several sources of basement leaks, most of which are minute openings in basement walls or floor.įloor Cracks – Basement floors are thin layers of poured concrete, typically 2 – 4 inches in depth, that have no structural role in the home’s foundation. Sources of Basement Leaks and Fixing Them Permanently Those are the causes of basement leaks but what are the sources and how do you fix them permanently? When the window well fills with water, from either a clogged or missing drain or separated window well liner, the water can seep in around a poorly installed window or even create enough pressure to push the window in. Window wells allow light and air to enter the basement through the window but can accumulate water during a heavy rain if the drain is either clogged or missing. Window Wells – Window wells can be another cause of seepage that has nothing to do with ground water pressure. When this soil expands, it creates lateral, or sideways, pressure against the foundation that can cause foundation damage and create leaks in the basement. This looser soil tends to be more absorbent and expansive.Īlso, this area around the home is often inundated with rain water when the home’s gutters are clogged or blocked or when downspouts are not extended and are discharging large volumes of water right next to the foundation. His situation is worsened by the fact that a 10-foot wide area around the perimeter of the house is less compacted than other soil because it was the site of the original foundation excavation that was later backfilled. Clay soil, such as is common in the Chicago area, doesn’t drain as well and tends to absorb water and expand. Certain types of soils, such as sand and loam, drain fairly quickly and don’t absorb as much water. Lateral Pressure – The soil that surrounds a foundation between the footings and the surface can also absorb water although under normal weather conditions this soil should drain. When the water table rises under a foundation it creates hydrostatic pressure against the foundation from below that can force water into the basement and create leaks opportunistically. When heavy or persistent rain or snowmelt occurs, water is absorbed by soil closer to the surface and, when the surface soil becomes saturated, the storm water that isn’t absorbed causes the water table to rise. One factor that influences the height of the water table is proximity to bodies of water so that areas around the Great Lakes, for example, will have higher water tables than Kansas or South Dakota. The level at which this ground water exists is called the “ water table” and its location varies widely. Even in dry areas like the American Southwest water can still be found underground although at a much lower level than elsewhere. Hydrostatic Pressure – Although it might not always seem like it, there is water in the ground everywhere. The two must combine to make the basement leak and any approach to repairing the leak must take both into account.īy far the most common cause of basement leaks is pressure created by water in the soil surrounding the foundation that occurs in two forms. The first are usually natural occurrences that take place outside the basement and the second are generally flaws or disruptions in the foundation’s structure. In examining why a basement leaks, it’s important to know that there are causes of leaks and there are sources of leaks. Of course, anything that can be said about leaks in a basement can also apply to a crawl space which, after all, is nothing more than a short basement albeit one that is likely to have a dirt floor. When a basement leaks it does not imply that the home was not built well or that some extraordinary catastrophe has taken place most likely it’s just a combination of time and the forces of nature, although there are some man-made factors that can cause or worsen a leaking basement.Īny type of foundation can spring a leak and those built of poured concrete are no less vulnerable than one made of masonry – they just leak differently. Menu Why a Basement Leaks and How to Fix it PermanentlyĪ leaking basement is a very common occurrence in many homes.
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