Water damage to your basement can be devastating and even irreversible in severe cases. The first signs of basement water damage are typically subtle, and it takes a keen eye to pick out these early signs. After a while, these subtle signs of water damage become more apparent, which spells disaster for your house.
First, severe damage means you have to pay a bundle to repair the basement water damage. Also, basement water damages lower your house’s resale value by quite a significant amount. In some cases, you’ll have to deal with weird smells coming from the basement because of this water damage.
Fortunately, if you can discover it early enough, you can avoid these ugly situations. However, first, you need to know how to spot the signs of water damage in your basement early enough.
In this piece, we’ll highlight a couple of telltale signs that your basement has water damage.
What Causes Basement Water Damage?
Anything from adverse weather conditions to bad plumbing could lead to having water in the basement. Here are a few common causes of water damage in your basement.
Plumbing Issues
These plumbing issues don’t have to come from the basement specifically. Plumbing issues from anywhere in the house will most likely affect the basement. That’s because gravity will drain water to the lowest room of the house.
Heavy Rainfall
Heavy storms could lead to flooding in your basement. Waking up to a flooded basement is a nightmare come true. However, if possible, you can file for water damage claims from your insurance company to take care of the damages.
Tiny Roof Leaks
It’s amazing how leaks from the uppermost part of your house can damage the lowest room. The reason is the same as with plumbing issues—water drains to the lowest parts of your home. That’s why it’s so important to hire competent contractors for your roofing needs.
Water Table Fluctuation
The water table is always fluctuating, and this fluctuation is beyond your control. Your best bet is installing French drains or having a sump pump in your basement.
Obvious Signs of Water Damage in Your Basement You Should Look For
Basement water damage is detrimental to your homes’ foundation. Moreover, the costs for repairing this water damage are sometimes astronomical.
Here are some overt signs of basement damage to keep your eyes peeled out for.
Peeling Paint in Your Basement
If you notice paint peeling in your basement, don’t overlook it as normal house aging. This peeling could indicate the first signs of basement water damage. It means that cement under the paint is spalling, which means the cement is starting to pop out.
Spalling only occurs when the cement comes into contact with water. This might also be a precursor to structural failure. So if you notice any spalling, contact a professional to see if you might need them to repair your foundation.
Weird Smells
If you start noticing some weird smells in the basement, then it may indicate the presence of moisture. These odors are somewhat musty, which is usually a common feature of moldy places.
However, don’t jump into conclusions before you do some thorough cleaning. If you use a dehumidifier, but the smell persists, then you might have a leak in your basement. If so, you need to find the source of the leak to prevent the smell from getting out of hand.
Mold
If you notice any mold in your basement, then you definitely have a leakage in your basement. Mold thrives in moist environments making a damp basement an ideal place for mold to proliferate.
Remember, mold may be responsible for the nasty smell in your basement. Also, mold spores pose a health hazard to the occupants of your house. You’ll need to take care of this mold issue ASAP, especially if anyone in the house has respiratory issues.
Sunken Floor
A sunken floor is an overt sign of water basement damage. It may happen gradually or just drastically. Whatever the case, you need to find out the root cause of the sunken floor before things get worse.
If it happens, there could be two reasons: foundation damage due to water or soil erosion beneath. Whatever the reason is, the problem should be addressed immediately. If it worsens it could result in costly repairs.
Discoloration on Walls and Floors
Notice how condensation from your AC may sometimes discolor your wall? This also happens to the basement floor and walls when there’s water damage.
So if you notice any discoloration or spots on the walls of your basement, then you could have a leak in your basement that you need to deal with promptly.
Cracks
When you notice cracks on your basement walls, floor, or foundation, it could be a sign of basement water damage. The size of the cracks will determine how grave the situation is.
Small hairline cracks shouldn’t be a cause of alarm. However, large cracks deserve your full attention. Apart from these cracks indicating water damage in your basement, they are a conduit for more water to pass through.
If you’re reselling your home, then these cracks could really hurt the resale value. Don’t bother filling the cracks because unless you solve the source of the water leak, or the cracks will reappear. These cracks are more visible during summer and spring.
You Can Prevent Basement Water Damage
Fortunately, with home maintenance best practices, you can always prevent basement water damage from happening. You should act quickly when you first notice signs of basement water damage. The longer you take, the worse the problem gets.
No matter how minimal the water damage is, it’s always best to leave the repairs to the professionals. That’s because water damage could have severe implications on the structural integrity of your entire house. Since you now know the overt signs of water damage, you can call the professionals to check your situation before severe damage occurs.
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