After a heavy rain over the weekend, my water alarm went off, and I found a pool of water accumulating in my basement. I had previously dry proofed the basement walls before purchasing the house. However, I'm concerned because my concrete floor has hairline cracks that seem to span the entire area, and when I step on it, I can feel the water squish beneath. I don't have a traditional sump pump; instead, I have an open hole drain that leads to a pump that triggers when the water reaches about an inch. I know I need to resolve this because the water flow beneath the house can't be good for the foundation. I also have gutters and downspouts that are supposed to direct water away from the property. What are some typical solutions for a situation like this in an older century home?
3 Answers
It happens to the best of us! First, check your gutters and make sure they’re directing water away effectively. Adding extensions to the downspouts might help. Also, consider picking up some Wet & Forget with a pump sprayer to spray down the basement; this can help prevent mold and keep that musty smell at bay.
The first thing to remember is that while you can't completely waterproof your foundation, you can redirect water away from it. Make sure your gutters and downspouts are functioning properly and are directing water far away from your house. If those steps aren’t enough, you might need to look into digging around your foundation to install a proper drainage system that will catch and redirect any water before it gets into your home.
You seem to have a mud slab, which could be causing those cracks. It’s a thin layer of concrete directly on the dirt, so it’s not super sturdy. You might want to investigate the potential issues with your gutters and grading. If a lot of water is flowing towards your foundation, it could be a major contributor to your problem. If you’re planning to finish your basement later, you may need to excavate and install drains outside to properly waterproof the walls.