When Is Basement Waterproofing Necessary?

For many homeowners, particularly those with an unfinished basement, having a basement that looks, smells, or feels damp may not seem like a huge deal. However, moisture in a basement is not a good thing and can lead to serious complications later on. Due to its location, your basement is more susceptible to moisture damage than any other part of your home.

When your basement is not properly waterproofed, and moisture is able to seep into the basement, this can lead to structural problems in your home. In our Homeowner’s Guide To Basement Waterproof Services, we covered some signs that indicate you could benefit from a basement waterproofing system. In this post, we’re going to splash into those signs more as well as some others.

Sign #1: Basement Has A Musty Odor

Have you noticed that your basement smells bad? Over time, moisture in your basement can lead to an unpleasant, musty odor. This is usually an indication of water seeping into your home over a long period of time. While cleaning your basement or spraying air fresheners may help with the smell, but it’s best to attack the source of the problem by determining where your basement leak is coming from. No matter what the problem may be, these odors in your basement are not a good sign and needs to be taken care of right away, and basement waterproofing is a solution.

Sign #2: Water Damaged Basement Walls and Flooring

A continuous mixture can cause your floors or walls to slowly but surely rot. Even the smallest crack in your basement flooring or walls are a sign that there is water getting in somewhere. Fortunately, these cracks can be fairly simple so repair and can be a way to make your basement more waterproofed. Additionally, if your walls or floors are soft to the touch, it’s essential to get rid of the water outside before you attempt to make repairs; otherwise, your repair efforts will be ineffective, and it’s likely you will be faced with the same issue later on.

Sign #3: Mold or Mildew In The Basement

Another visual indicator of moisture in your basement is the presence of mold. Mold and mildew grow and thrive wherever there is moisture present. Discovering these nuisances in your basement means that there is likely a leak nearby causing the infestation. If you discover mold in your basement, you will want to opt for mold removal performed, as mold can be hazardous to one’s health. It is recommended to have your basement waterproofed to help prevent the mold from reappearing.

Sign #4: Water Markings In The Basement

Take a look at the walls in your basement. If moisture has been seeping into your basement, water marks will form on the walls over time. Additionally, along with watermarks, efflorescence is a white, chalky substance that you may notice on your basement walls. Efflorescence is caused by mineral deposits that are left behind when water leaks into your basement. Therefore, efflorescence can indicate a crack or leak that you cannot immediately see.

As you can see, there are plenty of signs that indicate when basement waterproofing is necessary. Therefore, if you are sick of dealing with moisture in your basement and the problems it can cause, contact our team at AMCO Waterproofing. For more information about basement waterproofing, contact us today!