What Are Some Signs That My Basement Has Water Damage?

5/28/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of NW & SW Dutchess is a full restoration company. Our restoration team is on call and ready to help you determine the best course of action.

Many homeowners find the basement to be a useful, helpful addition to their home. It can be furnished and used as extra play space for growing kids, kept bare and used as extra storage space or set up for the up-and-coming neighborhood band.

However, through the course of your home ownership experience, you are likely to experience water damage in the basement, due mostly to the fact that basements are dug out from the ground.

You may be one of the lucky few who never come have to deal with the issue of moisture in the basement, but the odds are stacked against you.

So it’s definitely in your interest to at least know what to look for. Below we will look at the most common warning signs—and if you realize you may have a problem, you know who to call.

Water Damage Signs to Look Out For

Unpleasant, musky odors. You know that basement smell? That musky, stale smell? That’s not just how basements smell because they’re underground. That’s the smell of moisture having seeped in through cracks, blocks and breathable material. And it’s the smell that warns you that mold and mildew are present in the environment—while these are often hard to see, they are easy to smell.

Flaking paint on masonry or walls. Whether basements are finished with paneling or drywall, or furnished with painted cinder blocks, you may see paint begin to bubble, flake or crack. This is a telltale sign that moisture is leaking in. Even if you’ve applied waterproof paint, eventually it won’t be able to hold back the water behind it.

Foundational cracks. A crack in your foundation, though homes sometimes shift over time, can be a major indicator of a serious water leak beneath your floor. On the inside, cracks can show up in the floor, the ceiling or in your walls, and they often point to a structure under stress, caused by a foundation that’s cracking. Hairline cracks needn’t cause alarm, but if they get any larger, they should be looked into immediately.

If you notice any of these signs in your basement, let us take a look. Our expert water restoration technicians can help you determine what is causing these issues and how to treat it properly. Contact us today to learn more.