Either if you live in the basement, or if your house has a basement, where you are using it as an utility room, the water in the basement affects the things or products in it.
Majority of the houses in South Korea have a basement where they rent it out, and people residing in the basement have a hard time during the rainy days as the water from the roads fall into their places through the windows.
So the situation becomes alarming for the people who live there, as their belongings get spoiled or lost in the water.
This article is all about the reasons for the water in the basement, foolproof way to stop the water from the basement, how much water in the basement is bad and ways to recuperate from the effects of heavy water in the basement.
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How Much Water in Basement Is Bad?
If there is water even for a few inches in the basement, it is quite bad as it could affect the supplies or the other things that are on the floor making the floor slippery and full of water.
As they are built in a low space and angle, the water tends to collect and occupy the space.
Even with a little bit of rain or water stagnation above the space, the water tends to stagnate in that place making the water rise in the basement by a few inches.
Though during construction or remodeling, the builders or workers work on waterproofing the basement and making it a possible living space or a space for storage.
But as time goes, it is expected that there might be cracks in the basement and through that the water may seep or peak.
But it is also to be noted that even properly constructed or coated basements can absorb water through the soil and thereby make the walls wet too.
If the water from the walls that are wet, evaporates, the whole air in the room of the basement gets humid.
What Can Be Done to Fix a Problem with Water in The Basement?
There are a lot of ways to prevent the water from being stored or stagnates in the basement like :
- Clean the gutters
- Repair cracks and molds
- Work on the repair of electronic equipment’s
- Improving the grading of the foundation for the basement
- Work on repairing the seals and glasses of the windows
- A basement drainage with a pump system could be installed
- Install or incorporate an Exterior waterproof membrane
- Use a Dehumidifier
What Can Water in Basement Do To A Home?
Water in Basement can cause multiple issues at home and it all depends on the water quantity in the basement and also if it is not recarnified or cleared out as soon as possible, problems may arise.
Molds
Mold starts to form in enclosed spaces and for a place like basement where there may or mayn’t be windows present, molds are prone to form making the space more damp and musty. Considering the susceptibility of the basement to mold growth, water seeping in from floor or walls, will make such place even more damper.
The air quality of the space gets affected and also moves through the home, causing some health issues.
Wiring and damage to appliances
Being the staple place for washing machines and water heaters, any possible leakage in the equipment can lead to flooding the floor. And if left unchecked can cause circuit issues and cracks in the basement floor. It costs a lot to repair the place and also the equipment, but if mistakenly touching the water where such wires or malfunctioned equipments are there, it may cost a life too.
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Structural damage
The soil of the basement becomes saturated and can cause a leak from below if left unattended. The hydrostatic pressure can cause rifts or cracks on the floor. It can weaken the foundation of the floor of the basement thereby causing structural damage.
How long can water sit in basement?
Water in the basement may cause molds to form, increase the musty smells, and damage the floors, spoil the belongings or furniture lying there.
Normally, the Water in Basement can sit for nearly or more than 24-48 hours. The sooner the water gets cleared out, it will cause lesser damages.
But if the water is let to be stagnates or stay in the basement for a long time, it will cause structural damage and also damage to electronic equipment lying there or connected to the house.
How Does Water Get Into the Basement?
There are many reasons which are causing the water to get into the basement. It can be due to rain or a slow drain from the basement drain where large amounts of water is there could also contribute to the Water in Basement or considering basements to be the places where washing machines, or heaters are kept, there maybe a possible leak in it, flooding the basement.
You can also determine the causes for the water in the basement, by the surface of the floor or the wall’s surface as the water stagnates or evaporates.
With that you can understand if it is caused by rain or if the basement is wet after a heavy rain.
If the water is trickling from the wall after the rain, or if there are puddles formed in the basement, the reason for the water in the basement can be known.
Can a Flooding Basement Ever Be a Useful Part of The Home?
The flooding basement can still be a useful part of the home of there is no serious damages to the floor or walls or equipment’s there.
But in any case, the flooding absent is a state of emergency and the water must be extracted as quickly as possible to limit the further issues that maybe caused.
Even if the basement is waterproofed, water may seep in through cracks or floor rifts formed due to heavy rains.
It is necessary to clear out the water, clean the surface, proof the basement for flood or water and then continue to reside or use it for other purpose.
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