How to Avoid Basement Flooding

A flooded basement can be very costly for a homeowner, especially when the basement is a finished living space. As a rule, water may enter a basement because of groundwater penetration or through a backed up sewer system. While it is never easy to guarantee against water damage, there are several things a homeowner may do to reduce the potential for problems. Groundwater intrusion is the first area for a homeowner to attack.

• 1

  Slope the ground away from the foundation of the home. One of the major problems encountered by homeowners is drainage actually sloped toward a home rather than away from the foundation. Water that is not drained away from the structure will attempt to find a way into the basement. As homes age, it is common for roof runoff to erode the earth around the home, creating an area where water is trapped at the foundation. Manually improving the slope by adding soil that promotes runoff rather than trapping the water at the foundation is the first step. Simple garden tools like shovels and rakes are often sufficient for these repairs. In some cases, a plastic liner may be added just below ground level to further reduce water penetration. Slope away from the home should be at least one foot for every ten feet from the foundation.

• 2

  Construct a swale where the home is built into a hillside. Obtaining the proper slope may be difficult or impossible to obtain for hillside homes, with a swale providing one of the few practical solutions.This simply means that a shallow ditch must be dug around the home to redirect the water to another area rather than allowing the water to drain toward the structure. In some areas, it may be advisable to install drain tile in the swale area to further promote site drainage. Moving water away from the home's footprint is critical to reducing the potential for basement water damage.

• 3

  Add or repair gutter systems to move roof runoff away from the home. Hand tools are needed for these improvements. Repair or tighten any damaged connectors and seal gutter seams if needed. If water routinely runs over the top of existing gutters, additional downspouts should be added. Gutters must also slope toward the downspouts. Any areas where water collects in gutters should be re-sloped to improve drainage. Gutter downspouts must also be extended to drain water away from the foundation. Water should drain at least 6 feet away from the foundation. Maintain gutters on a regular basis to ensure that they do not become blocked with debris.

• 4

  Remove any materials used in landscaping that block water drainage from the foundation. Landscape timbers and concrete landscape blocks may look nice, but they may exacerbate drainage issues. Raised garden areas at the foundation are commonly cited as causes of basement water damage where drainage from the gardens is not provided. Unbroken runs of sidewalk that do not allow drainage are also concerns. Move sidewalks away from the foundation or replace them with landscape stone that will not impede drainage.

• 5

  Install foundation drain tile and sump pumps if all else fails. This is a costly remedy, but may be the only solution for preventing water intrusion into living areas. Where water tables are high, this is the only real solution. However, this is not a job for the average homeowner, as heavy equipment and a great deal of labor are required. Consult a contractor that is experienced in this type of work for additional advice.