Repairing Basement Water Leakage

If you notice water pooling in your basement, you'll want to repair the basement water leakage as soon as possible. Otherwise, not only will you be endangering the structure and foundation of your home, you will be endangering the health of you and your family, as well as the environment. Water in the basement could lead to the appearance of hazardous mold, and the basement water can leak into the soil and pollute it.

Here are some methods for repairing basement water leakage and helping to prevent them from occurring.

Find it and fix it

You first need to find the leaks and their source. Most leaks are due to a buildup of water in the soil, so they are likely to be found on the floor or the walls that sit against the soil. When it rains, go to the basement and check around. Mark any spots you find with tape.

You'll need several items for the next step: a tough-bristle wire brush, broom/dust pan or shop-vac, towels, and a mop. You need to dry the spots where the cracks are, then apply the wire brush, removing the loose cement. Clean up the dust with the broom or vacuum.

Next, apply hydraulic cement to the cracks you've prepared. This substance is dangerous when inhaled, so you'll need some protective gear, such as gloves, goggles, and some kind of mask. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to the letter when applying the substance, especially the safe-use and safe-disposal guidelines.

Hydraulic cement dries quickly. Be ready with a tool that you can use to smooth out the cement you've applied. If you like, you can paint over the area with a paint designed to prevent water from penetrating.

If the cracks are so big that you think you'll need more than a bag of cement to repair them, it's likely you'll need to consult a professional. You may have some structural damage to your basement and the foundation of your house that will need attention.

Preventive measures

You can prevent basement leaks in several ways. Clean the gutters around the house. Make sure to check for blocked downspouts; debris may have settled in and is causing water to back up and enter the walls of your home through cracks.

Make sure you have proper water drainage around your house. You can build your own trench -- called "drain tile" or a "French drain" -- or hire someone to do it for you. You can bury a polyurethane pipe on a slope so that it efficiently redirects water away from your house. You can make a slope with gravel or sand so that water travels away from your house's foundation.

Installing a sump pump, which generally is connected to the drain tile to disperse any collected water away from the house, is another wise choice to help avoid future damage.