Avoid a Flooded Basement

3/17/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Hannibal has been restoring water damage in the area for many years. Our fast emergency response time, equipment, and experience save our customers time and money in most cases.

Here are some tips for protecting your basement from water seepage:

Reseal your basement.

Water in the basement is often caused by cracks in building foundations or floor slabs. If you notice water seepage after heavy rain when you’ve never had a problem, it may mean that your once waterproof cement floors and basement walls have deteriorated. Painting vulnerable areas with water sealant can prevent seepage.

Make sure water drains away from the building.

Seepage is exacerbated by soil that has settled in a way to make water flow toward the building. After a storm, and especially if the ground is already saturated, rainwater that flows towards the building goes down the outside of the foundation wall, potentially through any cracks.

Install a backwater valve.

Though less common than other causes of basement water, sewer backups are messy. Learn more about your sewer responsibilities and install and maintain a backwater valve, which allows sewage to go out, but not come back in.