Look, nobody wants a flooded basement. It’ll empty your wallet faster than anything and your whole house starts smelling like a swamp. Plus that black mold stuff will make you sick as a dog. But listen – most of this crap can be avoided if you just do some basic stuff around your house.
I’m gonna tell you exactly what to do so your basement stays bone dry.
1. Understand Where Water Comes From
You can’t fix something if you don’t know what’s broken, right? Water sneaks into your basement from a bunch of different places:
- Rain sitting around your house cause your yard’s all screwed up or your gutters are full of leaves and junk
- Water underground that keeps pushing on your basement walls (fancy people call it hydrostatic pressure – I just call it annoying)
- Cracks in your walls or floor that let water waltz right in
- Crappy basement windows that leak or pipes that won’t stop dripping
- Air that’s too humid and makes water show up on your cold walls
Once you figure out where the hell your water’s coming from, then you know how to kick it out.
2. Maintain Proper Surface Drainage
This is the biggest no-brainer ever. You want that rain water running away from your house, not hanging out next to it like some unwanted houseguest.
- Point your downspouts so they dump water at least 6-10 feet away from your house
- Clean all that crap out of your gutters so they actually work
- Make sure the ground around your house goes downhill away from it – needs to drop at least 6 inches in 10 feet
Do this stuff and way less water will be trying to break into your basement.
3. Seal Cracks and Gaps
Even teeny tiny cracks turn into major problems if you ignore them long enough. Go walk around your basement and hunt for:
- Those skinny little cracks running up your walls
- Gaps where your floor meets the wall
- Old cement between blocks that’s crumbling like stale cookies
You can slap some hydraulic cement or that goopy sealant stuff on small cracks yourself. But if water keeps showing up or cracks keep getting bigger, call somebody who actually knows what they’re doing.
4. Install an Interior Drainage System
These things don’t try to keep every drop of water out – they just grab whatever gets in and kick it back outside. They’re awesome for dealing with that pushy underground water.
Here’s what you get:
- A drain that runs around your basement (some people call it French drain or weeping tile – whatever, it’s just a drain with holes)
- A pump that blasts the water back outside where it belongs
- Maybe some wall stuff that makes water go down to the drain instead of all over your floor
They stick this under your basement floor. It’s way easier and cheaper than tearing up your whole yard to waterproof it from outside.
I talked to this guy from AquaBoss Waterproofing about what homeowners should do:
“In many cases, water problems don’t begin with flooding—they start with small warning signs like damp corners or musty odors. Installing an interior drainage system early on can intercept water before it becomes a bigger issue. We often recommend this approach in homes with high water tables or older foundations.”
See? Don’t wait till your basement looks like a swimming pool. Fix the small stuff before it becomes a disaster that costs you thousands.
5. Use a Sump Pump with Backup
If you live anywhere that gets wet, you better have a sump pump. This thing turns itself on and pumps water out when things get too high.
Keep it happy:
- Test the damn thing every couple months – just dump some water in there and make sure it works
- Keep garbage out of the pit so it doesn’t get all jammed up
- Get a battery backup for when the power goes out during storms – cause that’s exactly when you need it working
6. Control Humidity Levels
Basements are naturally damp and gross compared to upstairs. Even without leaks you can get mold and nasty smells. Get yourself a good dehumidifier made for basements and keep things between 30-50% humidity.
Also do this:
- Wrap those cold pipes so they don’t sweat all over everything
- Make sure air can move around where you got your washer and dryer
- Seal up any gaps around windows and vents
7. Monitor Regularly
Check on your basement once in a while so you catch problems before they bite you in the ass:
- Smell around for that musty basement smell, look for paint peeling, or weird stains on walls
- Stick some moisture detectors in sketchy spots
- Really check things after big storms or when all that snow melts
Catch this stuff early and you can fix a little damp spot instead of dealing with a flood later.
Final Thoughts
Basement leaks don’t just pop up overnight like magic. They start small – maybe just a damp corner, funky smell, or hairline crack you can barely see. Stay on top of drainage, seal up problems when they’re little, and get some interior waterproofing going.
Need help? Contact AquaBoss Waterproofing
https://aquabosswaterproofing.ca
80 Marine Parade Dr, Etobicoke, ON M8V 0A3, Canada
+1 647-773-5755