A Silent Invader—Water Beneath Your House | SERVPRO® of Clatsop, Columbia Counties

12/9/2020 (Permalink)

If you have water damage in your home, contact us right away. SERVPRO of Clatsop, Columbia Counties is your local water restoration expert.

Have you ever been awakened by water dripping on your nose? Or been frustrated by a burst pipe? People often experience these flooding mishaps—they’re hard to miss, and the solutions are obvious.

However, water underneath your home or business also creates problems, perhaps worse ones. Water can do plenty of damage if it’s neglected, both to people and property. Let’s discuss water in your foundation and/or basement—and how you can dry it out before it becomes a problem.

Sources of Low-Lying Water

Maybe you sometimes see water standing in your basement, or find that your basement walls are damp to the touch. Rainwater draining under your house is one common cause. Faulty construction, such as crevices at joints or openings around where pipes enter, may also let water in.

Why Worry About Hidden Wetness?

Though it isn’t instantly annoying, dampness in your foundation, crawlspace or basement can harm health and structures. Encouraged by damp conditions, mold can grow, making people sick. Water seepage may also crack concrete walls and rot joists, leading to potentially severe structural issues.

Protection Via Landscaping

Your first step to halting low-lying water is to keep it away from your home or business. Your structure should lie slightly uphill of the ground around it. Try creating a gentle grade of about an inch per foot, for at least six feet all around your home to encourage rain water to drain elsewhere.

Protection Via Construction

Anything underground will come into contact with some dampness, of course. But it’s important for that dampness to stay outside…not in. Drain tile systems and drainage pipes known as French drains can help steer away unwanted water, as can a sump pump.

Though it may take some investment of time and money to protect your basement or foundation from water damage, it’s better than finding mold or, worse, structural problems. If you ever do end up needing restoration due to low-lying water damage, give SERVPRO a call!

If water damages your home, we’re there for you. Contact us at any hour for a consultation or immediate assistance.