How To Overcome Leaking Or Flooded Basements When Selling Your Home
Waterproofing the Flooded Area
The first thing you'll want to do is remove the water, if it's not much then a mop and bucket will work, but if it's overwhelming you'll need a sump pump. If you have a sump pump and your basement or crawl space still flooded then your sump pump needs to be replaced. After you get the area drained and mopped, you'll need to put out a dehumidifier to prevent bacteria and mold from forming. After disinfecting the space, the next step is to find and repair the source of the leak or flooding.
Common Basement Flooding Problems
The second step to finding a solution for your flooded basement is figuring out where the leak is coming from. Flooding can come from almost any place in your basement, including the walls, floors, pipes, and entrances like doors and windows.
- When flooding occurs through the window it can stain concrete, damage drywall, and soak insulation
- If your basement is leaking due to hydrostatic pressure, you need a perimeter drain system
- Flooding through floor cracks need to be fixed through waterproofing
After the source is repaired, it's time to install a vapor barrier and drainage system to protect the home from leaks and flooding in the future.
Installing a Drainage System
A dry, usable basement or crawl space is pretty essential to sell a home. Basement drainage systems vary widely, allowing you the ability to choose the perfect one to install in your home. WaterGuard® is an ideal solution for most basement waterproofing, and it is installed just underneath the perimeter edge of your basement floor. There are other specialized drainage system options to choose from as well.
- SmartPipe™: Crawl space drainage
- TrenchDrain™: Grated basement drain
- WaterGuard® IOS: Iron ochre system
- FlowGuard®: Thin floor system
Having the best flood solution team is necessary for making sure you have a clean and dry basement in a timely manner. Floods and leaks are never good, but when selling a home they can quickly break a deal or cause major delays.
