Basement leaks are a homeowner’s worst nightmare. In addition to causing substantial water damage to furniture, flooring, and anything else in the basement, leaks can also increase the potential for dangerous, destructive mold outbreaks. Not to mention, leaks can also cause your basement to develop an unpleasant odor. All of these negative effects can ultimately do a number on your home’s value and your bank account. As such, it’s important to take measures to prevent them from occurring. Here are some of the most effective ways to prevent basement leaks.
Level Your Lawn Using a Skid Steer
A poorly graded lawn is a common cause of basement leaks. If your lawn doesn’t have the proper slope, water won’t efficiently drain away from your home when it rains. Instead, the water may start to pool around the base of the house and ultimately seep into the basement. To prevent this issue from occurring, it’s a good idea to regrade your lawn using a skid steer. A skid steer can be equipped with a variety of attachments, such as a bucket attachment, to help you easily move and smooth the soil of your lawn so that water can drain from your house.
Install Downspout Extensions
Short downspouts are common and easily preventable causes of basement leaks. Ideally, downspouts should extend six feet or more from your home. At the bare minimum, four feet will suffice. If your gutter’s downspouts extend less than four feet, water may start to accumulate close to your foundation and leak into your basement. To avoid this issue, simply install downspout extensions by sliding the flexible devices into the end of the downspouts and connecting them to the underground drainpipes.
Install a Basement Drainage System
Another effective way to prevent basement leaks is to install a drainage system, which will collect water that enters the basement and direct it to an internal sump pump system. The sump pump will then pump the water out of the basement. Professionally installed basement drainage systems can be expensive—often costing between $3,000 and $8,000—but they’re also some of the most successful methods of preventing chronic basement leaks. When you compare the cost of installing a drainage system to the damage that chronic basement flooding can cause, you’ll find they’re well worth the investment.