What Causes Basement Moisture?

Most of us know the unmistakable smell of a musty or moldy basement. The root cause of that off-putting smell is nearly always one simple thing – moisture in some shape or form. Whether it’s from flooding, warm and humid outside air, or defective gutters; moisture in your basement can do some serious damage to your home and even create unhealthy conditions for your family. If you live in Louisville or Southern Indiana, you know floods and rain-related events can happen nearly any time. Best Waterproofing is here to take on your wet basement challenge!

Many customers who contact us know from where the moisture in their basement originated. Often it’s perhaps a relatively minor flood that happened some time ago that left behind an inch or so of water. Doesn’t sound like much, but it can make an impact, for sure. We like to say that water is “smart” – it will find its way in to a home no matter how small the crack, crevice, or pinhole. It does not give up! 

Many homeowners are familiar with watching and feeling helpless as water enters their basement during a heavy rainstorm via any means necessary. Invading rainwater, particularly when it falls at high rates per hour, will even form little water spouts from tiny holes and cracks in a concrete basement floor. 

Let that water know who’s boss. At Best Waterproofing, it’s our job to outsmart all the ways that water can enter or permeate your basement. If you’re in Louisville, Southern Indiana or surrounding counties – and we’re ready to help you tackle your water problem! There’s no water problem we can’t solve! And if you have foundation, crawlspace, or drainage problems, we can help you with that too.

So, what causes basement moisture?

Many signs of water damage can be pretty obvious – a saturated base at the foot of concrete walls, standing water, or water trickling from walls. Other signs sometimes missed or overlooked include damp or rotting columns and wall joists, deteriorating wood or carpet, and staining on walls. There are a range of reasons why – and how – unwanted moisture may affect your basement area or crawlspace.

The three primary moisture sources include liquid water (from rain and groundwater), interior moisture sources (such as unvented dryer vents, leaking washing machines, or leaky upstairs plumbing), and humid/warm exterior air (open windows in humid weather can create condensation on basement walls and floors). According to information from the University of Minnesota Extension, exterior moisture sources are transferred from the outside of a home to its basement via four methods: liquid water flow, capillary suction, vapor diffusion, and air movement.

Poor grading of the home’s property, damaged gutters or downspouts, structural cracks, and lack of adequate or correct drainage can all contribute the rain and groundwater entering a basement. This can happen through both walls and floors. To help with these and other water issues, Best Waterproofing can assist with drainage improvements, sump pump systems, and many other exterior home improvement projects designed to protect your home.

When it comes to interior moisture sources, people living in the home are contributors there. Everyday activities such as showering, laundry, cooking and non-vented clothes dryers are likely causes. Something many people are unaware of is the amount of moisture contained within concrete flooring in a new home. According to the University of Minnesota Extension, this can amount to 0.2 gallons per square foot of wall, and 0.1 gallons per square foot of flooring. When you’re ready to tackle your interior moisture problem, whether from inside or exterior sources, we have a solution for your needs. Best Waterproofing can install whole house ventilation systems and even provide mold removal services.

When you’re ready to hit back at your wet basement or interior moisture problem, call Best Waterproofing in Louisville at 502-457-1962.