Signs You Have a Leaky Basement

Have you given thought to waterproofing your basement? If you haven’t, you probably should. Few things can be more detrimental to your respiratory health than unwanted moisture in your home. You might think you’d know if you have a leaky basement, but not every sign that you do is so obvious. With these in mind, we’ve laid out some of the most common indicators that you need basement waterproofing.

Mold

Let’s start with one of the most apparent signs of a leaky basement: mold. Generally speaking, it isn’t too difficult to spot mold in your basement. It can form on furniture, along drywall, and appliances. The kind of mold most of us are familiar with is black mold, and it is some seriously nasty stuff.

If you do notice mold, don’t downplay it as a one-off event. Contact us for mold remediation immediately. It is almost certainly a sign that your basement waterproofing system is failing.

A Musty Smell

We’ve all experienced it before—traveling down into someone’s basement and noticing a distinct musty smell. Too many people just cast this aside as the typical ‘basement smell’ and nothing to be concerned about. This is a mistake. Even if you can’t see any obvious signs of water damage, a musty smell could indicate mold or mildew resulting from a leaky basement.

Efflorescence

‘Efflorescence’ may be a fancy word, but it is an all-too-common indication that someone has a leaky basement. In fact, people often mistake it for mold, but it looks decidedly different. Look for efflorescence on your basement’s walls. It resembles a white, powdery substance.

On its own, efflorescence does not pose a threat to our health, unlike mold. But it does indicate that you have a leaky basement. It forms when water seeps through your walls and evaporates, leaving these minerals behind.

Bugs

The idea of insects living in your home is unsettling to many people. Most people are concerned to find spiders in the home, but they are typically the least of our concerns, and may even prey on the more pernicious pests.

If your basement has a moisture problem, you’re bound to end up with your fair share of unwanted house guests. Here are just a few of the creepy crawlies that will love the cool, moist environment of your basement:

• Cockroaches
• House centipedes
• Termites
• Pillbugs

You might want to note that noticing one of these pests in your basement doesn’t necessarily indicate a waterproofing issue, but you might want to be on the lookout for leaky appliances.

Contact All Aspects Waterproofing Today for Your Waterproofing Needs

Whether you need a new sump pump installed or want to waterproof your entire basement, contact All Aspect Waterproofing, a Better Business Bureau A+ rated company with over 30 years of experience in the Washington, DC./Maryland/Virginia area. We have a great deal of experience in waterproofing, mold testing, and mold remediation, and we want to make you feel at home again. Contact us online or by calling 1-866-999-3110 or 301-766-4420. To see what we’re up to, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Houzz.