How to check for basement water damage
Leaking basement or water seepage is a condition that must be dealt with as soon as possible, or you could eventually face huge bills for repairing or replacing foundations, walls and floors. Water in your basement also poses a health and electrical hazard.
Obvious signs of basement water damage
Check for the 8 major signs that water is doing damage to your basement.
- Wet spots on the basement walls
- Cracked walls in the basement or crawl space
- Peeling paint
- Rot, mold, mildew
- Efflorescence
- Insects/ bugs
- Damaged paneling
- Cracked floors
Wall surfaces
Search for vertical or horizontal cracks. Some may have fully penetrated the wall, opening routes for water entry – depending on local water table and soil conditions.
Efflorescence
A (whitish powder) which could indicate seepage which tend to get worse
Structural points
Examine corners where frames butt against foundation walls. These junctures are often uneven, resulting in gaps.
Masonry block walls
Look for signs of staining in the block closest to the basement floor. This could mean water building up inside the wall and deteriorating block’s integrity.