Warning
Moisturein a basement can createmold and mildew, as well as ruin flooring and wall materials.
And this backfill can settle more than the surrounding undisturbed soil.
Over time, the backfill compresses, creating a slope (grade) that angles downward toward the foundation.
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This can involve trucking in substantial amounts of soil to reverse the direction of the slope.
This can be a difficult problem to correct.
Driveway slabs sometimes develop sunken areas near roof gutter downspouts.
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Each rainstorm will dump water from both roofs onto the driveway.
Roof downspouts can add a literal flood of water to areas prone to drainage problems.
A 1,500-square-foot roof will shed around 940 gallons of water in a 1-inch rainstorm.
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Downspouts often dump water right at the base of the foundation.
But the vast amounts of water flowing off a roof can easily overwhelm such systems.
Also, check that the gutters are clean and flowing properly.
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Most neighbors will take measures to correct the problem if you diplomatically draw attention to the issue.
One solution for water runoff problems is called aFrench drain system.
This is a landscape project in which a gravel-filled trench helps to direct water in the direction you want.
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Friendly neighbors might even be willing to share the cost of installing such a system.
Subsurface groundwater is part of the natural water cycle.
It comes from precipitation that infiltrates under the ground.
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see to it your floor slopes toward the drain in your basement floor as well.
Finally, you could opt to waterproof your foundation wall.
Hire a professional to install a waterproof barrier around it, which will aid in keeping water out.
Seek a licensed plumber for broken pipes or to install a sump pump.
For major floods, a water mitigation company can remove water and dry out a basement.
If there are more than 2 inches of standing water, buy or rent a submersible sump pump.
Remove any wet carpet and insulation and damaged drywall immediately.
Dry out furniture, walls, and any items kept in your basement.
Salvaged items need to be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized.
From the inside, broken pipes or leaky appliances can flood basements with water.
Several external sources can cause moisture in a basement.
From below, groundwater can also leak into a basements walls and cracks in the floor.
Homeowners and Renters Guide to Mold Cleanup After Disasters.
Centers for Disease Control.
