Even if it feels as though your basement will never be free of cracks, moisture, water leaks, and a musty smell, it can be repaired. A leaky basement in Cambridge MA requires a trained waterproofing technician to perform an inspection and determine the cause of the leaks and the best way to fix them. The age of the basement will not affect whether or not it can be fixed because a waterproofing company has solutions for every type of foundation.
Main Cause Of Water Leaks In A Basement
The main cause of water leaks in a basement is due to hydrostatic pressure against the walls of the foundation. Clogged French drains around the footer of the basement can lead to excessive pressure against the foundation walls. The water around a foundation and footer needs to be removed by drains or by a sump pump.
Hydrostatic Pressure
A lack of rain can add to cracks in a foundation. When there is a lack of rain, the soil around the foundation shrinks and causes a gap between the soil and the foundation wall. This leaves room for rain water to rush into the gap and create pressure against the wall. Poor grading around the foundation will add to increased pressure on the foundation walls of a building.
Fixing A Leaky Basement
Fixing a leaky basement in Cambridge MA usually requires new drains to be installed inside of the basement footer. The series of drains will travel to a sump pump that is usually located in the corner of the basement. The sump pump will remove the water to the outside of the building.
Cracks in the wall should only be repaired after the drainage problem has been corrected. Any pipes or windows that affect the basement walls should be properly sealed to reduce the chance of water leaking in. Sealing the cracks without correcting the drainage problems will result in further damage to the foundation walls.
You will never have to worry about your basement leaking or smelling musty anymore when you contact an experienced waterproofing company.
