5 Ways to Keep Your Basement Dry

Water leaking in through a concrete basement wall.

Your home is only as strong as its foundation. For many homes, the foundation is also the basement. When this area suffers from water damage, it affects your entire home.

Water in your basement sets the stage for mold growth, wood rot, and other problems. To keep your basement dry and healthy, it’s important to protect it from the outside and the inside. After reading this guide, you’ll be equipped with practical ways to keep water out of the basement—and keep your home safe.

1. Clean Your Gutters

Your home’s gutter system plays a vital role in preventing water damage to your home. It’s always a good idea to regularly check on gutters around your home. If you notice debris clogging up the gutter trough, make sure you clear it out so water can flow normally.

If your gutters appear damaged, replace them as soon as possible with help from a professional. Keeping your gutters clean and updating them if needed will help keep water from collecting near the basement.

2. Extend Downspouts

Sometimes, downspouts can be the cause behind water in your basement. If a downspout is too close to the base of your home, it expels water right next to your basement. Over time, that water drains below the soil and builds up next to the basement walls. This causes damage to the basement walls and makes them bow inward.

Extending your downspouts is a great way to ensure water is moved far away enough from your basement. Consider installing underground extensions to keep your yard looking clean while it benefits from improved drainage.

3. Regrade Your Yard

Believe it or not, every yard has a slight slope to it. This is called a yard’s “grading”, and it’s supposed to allow water to flow away from the home. Sometimes, yard grading shifts due to heavy storms or just because of time.

Re-grading your lawn if necessary is one of the best ways to keep water away from the basement. Doing so ensures that groundwater flows in the opposite direction of your home.

4. Repair Basement Walls

Cracks in your basement walls appear for a number of reasons When water drains underground and builds up next to a basement, it leads to hydrostatic pressure. This is when water exerts a force great enough to push against the basement walls and cause structural damage—most often in the form of wall cracks.

This leads to a dangerous cycle where water continues to press against the wall and seep through the ever growing cracks. Even if cracks look small now, they will only get worse with time. You can fix them with repair tools such as wall anchors, carbon fiber reinforcement, and steel I-beams. All of these are designed to reinforce basement walls and prevent them from shifting.

5. Install Interior Waterproofing Measures

Your best efforts to keep your basement water-free mean nothing if you don’t have an effective waterproofing system installed. Whether water gets into the basement from cracks, leaky pipes, or high humidity— moisture will always cause problems. You can protect your basement from water damage by installing an interior drainage system and a sump pump.

Any water that leaks inside will be caught by the interior drainage system, and it will then be directed to a sump pump that will effectively remove it from the home before it causes any harm. Depending on the amount of moisture you’re experiencing, a wall vapor barrier or energy-efficient dehumidifier should also be installed for maximum protection.

Contact Innovative Basement Authority for Your Waterproofing Needs

Basement waterproofing is a crucial aspect of maintaining the structural integrity and longevity of your home. It involves protecting the basement from water infiltration, which can lead to various issues such as moisture damage, mold growth, and even foundation instability.

One of the advantages of waterproofing is that it can be performed year-round. Unlike some other construction or renovation projects that are weather-dependent, waterproofing can be carried out regardless of the season. Whether it’s spring, summer, fall, or winter, waterproofing specialists have the expertise and equipment to tackle the task effectively.

If you’re looking for foundation waterproofing or professional advice, get in touch with the experts at Innovative Basement Authority. Our crew will provide you with a free inspection and repair quote and recommend measures that will keep water out of your foundation.

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Leah Leitow

Content Writer

Leah is a Content Writer for Groundworks with nearly ten years of experience working in the foundation repair industry. Her experience ranges from working with homeowners to find the right solution to training inspectors and staff. In her background as a Michigan journalist, she gained invaluable insight into people's lives throughout our state. Leah lives in metro Detroit with her husband and two sons.