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The cause of a wet or damp basement can sometimes be minor and easily corrected. Or at other times become a sizable concern and expense.

Here are some possible causes and solutions:

Problem: The source of water in the basement cannot be identified.

Solution: To determine whether the water is seeping in from the outside or condensing inside, tape a twelve-inch square of aluminum foil to a wall that is prone to dampness, sealing all four sides as airtight as possible. In a day or two, if the side of the foil that was against the wall is wet, the problem is seepage. If the outside is wet, it's condensation.

Problem: Lawns that are flat or slope toward the house permit surface water (rain and melting snow) to drain down against basement walls. Water enters through cracks or other openings in the walls and causes wet spots on the walls or standing water on the floor.

Solution: Slope the ground away from the outside foundation (about one inch per foot) extending the slope for at least 10 feet. Seed it with a good lawn grass. Sodding is a common practice and prevents the washing away of newly graded areas during heavy rains. Where a large area of land slopes toward the house, surface drainage should be intercepted and redirected some distance from the house. Dig a shallow, half-round drainage ditch or depression designed to route the water around the house. Sod the ditch or plant grass in it. If even a shallow ditch is objectionable, drainage tiles, with one or more catch basins at low spots, may be installed.

Problem: Defective, clogged or nonexistent gutters & downspouts allow roof water to form puddles or wet the soil near or against basement walls, and enter through cracks or openings in the masonry.

Solution: Install gutters and downspouts wherever needed. Keep them free of debris. Repair gutters and downspouts as soon as the need appears. To prevent concentration of water at the point of discharge, use a concrete gutter or splash block to carry the water away at a slope of one inch per foot. Also, consider extending downspouts from rain gutters away from the outside foundation.

Problem: Dense shrubbery & other plantings around the basement walls prevent good ventilation.

Solution: Trim heavy growths of shrubbery so that soil gets more sunlight and dries quicker. When digging up the plantings, remove any pieces of masonry, mortar, or other material buried near the house after the basement was excavated.

Problem: Unprotected basement window wells act like cisterns during heavy storms, permitting water to seep in around window frames and below windows.

Solution: Windows or parts of windows below grade should be protected by metal or masonry window wells, with bottoms consisting of gravel to permit good drainage. Clear plastic bubbles are available to cover the entire window well like an awning.

Problem: Atmospheric moisture produces condensation ("sweating") on cool surfaces in the basement, particularly walls, floors, and cold water pipes.

Solution: Insulate the water pipes. Promote good ventilation--sunlight and free movement of air can quickly dry out a basement. Ventilation should be regulated according to the weather conditions. During hot, humid weather or long rainy spells, windows should be closed because the outside air will probably contain more moisture than the basement air. Heat the basement during the winter. During hot weather, use air conditioning to cool and dehumidify the air.

Problem: Leaky plumbing or other sources of moisture--such as clothes hung to dry on basement lines--increase humidity in the air, causing condensation.

Solution: Repair plumbing promptly, open windows or dry clothes in an automatic dryer vented outdoors. If the problem persists, experiment with using a large-capacity dehumidifier to eliminate condensation. Try borrowing one from a friend or neighbor before investing in what may turn out to be the wrong remedy.

If these methods of eliminating wetness fail to produce a dry basement, do not waste time or money on random potential solutions. Finding the cause of the problem is absolutely essential to its cure.

An accurate diagnosis from a reliable waterproofing contractor is the best option for solving this frustrating and damaging situation once and for all.

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