The gutter downspout is intended to direct water away from your home and ensure you have a dry basement, but when it is not positioned properly it may just result in exactly the opposite – a wet basement. An improperly placed downspout often allows water to drain against the side of the house, and eventually into the basement. Even the best basement waterproofing system and techniques may have trouble fending off pouring water from a failing downspout.
When your basement is wet, your best bet is to enlist the help of trained basement waterproofing professionals before the problem gets out of hand. Basement waterproofing professionals will assess where the water is entering your home and how best to solve the problem. Basements often leak for a variety of reasons, but a misguided downspout is an obvious – but often un-thought-of – problem.
Follow these steps to aid in basement waterproofing until the professionals can assist:
- Make sure all downspouts are pointed away from the house and deposit water at a safe distance. Typically, it is recommended water from downspouts is directed at least 5 feet away from the foundation of your home.
- Clean the gutters on your Northern Virginia home to prevent clogs, back-ups and spills against the house. The gutter collects the water runoff from your roof to prevent damage, but if they are clogged, it will not work.
- Check the foundation of your home (inside your basement) for signs of distress, cracks or even disintegration. These are all signs of potential routes for water to enter your basement, and will likely be the first repair made during the basement waterproofing process.
For more information on how to prevent a wet basement in your home, or for basement waterproofing services, contact the Northern Virginia basement waterproofing experts at Basement Waterproofing Nationwide today.