Why is basement flooding

Find us on Pinterest. See our YouTube channel. Here are some of the most common causes of basements flooding: The house was built in an unsuitable location. The walls and floor are not properly sealed. During the construction of a house or when remodeling, the walls and floor of the basement must be waterproofed with a sealant to avoid water leakage and flooding. The gutter system is clogged. Your gutters and downspouts may be blocked by debris and overflow with water during heavy rainfall.

Clean and inspect your gutter system regularly at least once a year to ensure proper drainage. This includes all varieties — storm, sanitary, and combined. While in most cases, sewers are below the level of the basement, the water level in the sewers can be, at times, above the level of the basement floor. Gravity does its best to move water from high to low. If either the groundwater level or sewer level around your home is above the basement floor, gravity will try to move that water into your basement.

A crack in the foundation floor, for example, provides gravity with a perfect path for water to be pushed into the basement. Sanitary sewers always have a path to the home, by design, and it is called the sanitary sewer lateral.

While under normal conditions, the lateral allows water to flow from your home to the sewer, there is the potential for water to move from the sewer toward your home. The circumstances described are shown in Figures 2 and 3, which are discussed in more detail below. In order to understand why a basement might flood, it is important to show the more common pathways, intentional or not, that permit water to flow into or around your basement.

Figure 1 indicates a typical home in the City of Kingston, and how it is serviced during normal conditions. Not all homes in Kingston have a storm sewer lateral as shown in the figure , but most just have a single sanitary sewer lateral. Figure 1 highlights common problems in red that all might contribute to a higher risk of flooding.

Some of these problems include:. Most flood events do happen during wet weather, but it is quite possible for a flood to occur during dry weather too. Three of the most common reasons are as follows:. This naturally means they are prone to flooding, even in dry weather. Gravity is typically at fault here. Gravity works hard to push water from the high ground to low, and when there is a room underground, there is a consistent likely chance of flooding.

But why does my basement flood when it rains? My basement, your basement, their basement, anyone's basement can flood, even if it never has before. There are a lot of factors involved, and any one of them can create severe water damage from basement flooding. If you do experience water in your basement, it is crucial that you find the source and fix the problem before it gets worse.

Remember, it only takes a cup of water to damage your home. While flooding can happen in dry weather, it is more common in wet. If you experienced flooding for the first time, or it is a consistent problem, there are several areas to look at first.

If your basement floods, even for the first time, there is a source and a solution. Once you know what the cause is, you can work on fixing the entry point to prevent future flooding. Luckily, there are basement waterproofing professionals you can schedule an appointment with.

They assess your property and your basement to evaluate the water issue and determine where it is entering. They can seal cracks, install a sump pump and more. Improperly Installed Downspouts The purpose of the downspout is to direct water away from the home and its foundation. Clogged Gutters Due To Debris Like the downspouts, gutters or eavestroughs are essential to divert water away from the home to keep the basement dry.

Water Supply Line, Hot Water Tank and Sump Pump Failure Your basement has three potential sources for flooding contained within it: the water supply line your pipes , hot water tank and the sump pump, if your home has one.

Location of Your Home If your yard or the land around your home does not slope away from your home, you may be more likely to have a flooded basement. Avoid Costly Home Damage From Basement Flooding By identifying the causes of water damage in basements, you can avoid the need for flood restoration services.

Flood Watch vs Warning: What's the Difference? Family emergency plan , safe shelter, preparedness kit — you want to Continue Reading. Different Types of Floods and Where They Occur When you think of flooding, it probably seems like a very straightforward thing. Rain, rain, rain. Nowhere for the water to go. There are several different types of floods, and the damage each can do to your home can be Learning the Whether the problem stems from a broken pipe, failed sump pump or the result of a heavy downpour that found its way inside, a flooded basement needs to be dealt with immediately to prevent long-term damage.

When dealing with Page 1 of 5.