The Causes of a Flooded Basement | SERVPRO® of East Mecklenburg/Matthews

1/24/2022 (Permalink)

Whatever the cause of water damage, we’ve got the solution. Reach out to SERVPRO of Mecklenburg/Matthews to learn more.

Every homeowner faces the threat of water damage; it’s among the most common insurance claims for homeowners in the United States, and it can happen any number of ways, from the common (think gutters backing up) to the freak (who expected that debilitating freeze in Texas in 2021?)

But all homeowners whose homes have basements can pretty much count on one thing—at some point, your basement will take on unwanted water, or at the very least, excessive moisture. It’s a near-guarantee: 98% of homes with basements will deal with some kind of water damage during the life of the home.

Basements being inherently below or partially below ground level creates a great many opportunities for water to find its way inside, both from within and without. These include, but are certainly not limited to:

Slope problems. One of the most important things for basement owners to do is to ensure that the slope of your yard sends rain and ground water away from your home. If your gutters are pooling water up against your house, it’s a guaranteed basement issue.

Pavement seals and slope. If you have pavement bordering your home perimeter, make sure its seals are regularly checked, and replaced as needed. Water that seeps through cracked seals will surely find its way into your basement. And that same pavement may settle or be worn over time, leading to a change in direction for water that flows over it.

Downspouts. It may seem a little much aesthetically to some, but in order to keep gutter flow safely headed somewhere other than your home, your downspouts need to extend 10 feet from your home.

Overflowing gutters. Gutter overflow can be caused by several things, but the two most common would be leaves clogging your actual gutters and debris clogging your downspouts. Make sure cleaning your gutters is part of your routine maintenance as a homeowner, as any overflow from your gutters runs down to your home’s foundation, which can either cause direct damage or erode the soil next to your perimeter, leading to likely damage down the line.

Hydrostatic pressure. This is less in your control than any other issue, but it can cause problems all the same. Pressure from the ground and groundwater can cause your home to—don’t freak out—essentially float in groundwater, which can then find its way into any little nook and cranny in your basement.

Regardless of the cause of your basement damage, we’ve got the solutions for getting it made right. Contact SERVPRO today to get the best team in the industry on your side.